Winston-Salem, N.C.- King University opened Day One of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Indoor Track & Field Championships with podium finishes, school-record performances, and key qualifiers advancing to Day Two. The Tornado made their presence felt across distance, multis, and sprints, setting the stage for a strong championship weekend.
Top-Five Finishers
Emily Ward – 3rd Place, Women's 5000m
Senior Emily Ward delivered King's first podium of the meet, battling through a tight 5000m race to finish 3rd overall in 18:23.51. Her performance secured 6 points for the Tornado and set the tone for the women's squad on opening day.
Savannah Darnell – 3rd Place, Pentathlon (School Record)
In one of the standout performances of the entire meet, Savannah Darnell shattered the school record in the pentathlon, scoring 3,281 points to finish 3rd overall. Her historic effort added another major highlight to King's Day One results and delivered valuable points in the team standings.
Relay Performances
Women's Distance Medley Relay – 7th Place
The team of Morgan Whitley, Samaya Armstead, Amanda Lowery, and Ermay Vazquez clocked a 13:30.06 to finish 7th, adding 2 points to the women's total. The group entered the meet ranked #96 nationally in Division II.
Men's Distance Medley Relay – 9th Place
The men's DMR squad of Spencer Utsey, Nikolis Townsend, Lance Hatcher, and Cole Johnson ran 10:44.19, finishing 9th and maintaining their #89 national ranking.
Advancing to Day Two
King's sprinters made a strong statement in the Men's 60m prelims, advancing two athletes to tomorrow's semifinals:
Senior Lynden Johnson won his heat with a sharp 6.78, securing an automatic qualifier. His time ranks #33 in Division II this season.
Sophomore Dominick Stevens followed with a heat-winning 6.81, advancing with confidence into Day Two. Stevens enters the semifinals ranked #58 nationally.
Both athletes will return to the track tomorrow with scoring opportunities on the line.
Looking Ahead
With podium finishes from Ward and Darnell, points from the women's DMR, and two men advancing in the 60m, King heads into Day Two with momentum and multiple scoring chances still ahead. The Tornado will look to build on their strong start as the championship continues.
