Women's Track Goes Back-to-Back as SSC Champs
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The University of Tampa men's and women's track programs delivered a historic performance at the 2026 Sunshine State Conference Outdoor Track Championships, held April 24–25 at the Embry‑Riddle Track & Field Complex, as the Spartan women claimed their second consecutive SSC title while the men captured the first outdoor conference championship in program history.
The men's team edged host Embry‑Riddle by four points to win the title with 114 points, powered by a dominant distance effort and key contributions across the sprints, hurdles, and relays. Zach Kehler led the way with one of the top individual performances of the meet, capturing three SSC titles in the 800 meters (1:51.7), 1,500 meters (3:48.1), and 5,000 meters (15:03.7). Kehler was supported by strong finishes from Josh Hindman, Cyron Gray, Elijiah Rivera, and William Poe, as Tampa consistently placed multiple athletes in the scoring positions.
Tampa also controlled the men's 3,000‑meter steeplechase, sweeping the top two spots as William Poe earned the conference title in 9:21.5, followed by Declan Fiorucci in 9:24.0, with Hayden Reich adding a fifth‑place finish. In the sprints, Jacob Khashou turned in a runner‑up finish in the 100 meters (10.36), while Calvin Jordan also scored in the event. The Spartans added pivotal points in the hurdles behind Luca Ruis and Rory Olsen, who placed third and fourth in the 400‑meter hurdles, and closed the meet with relay points in both the 4x100 and 4x400, sealing the historic title.
On the women's side, Tampa delivered another commanding championship performance, repeating as SSC champions with 169 points, the highest team total at the meet. The Spartans set the tone early in the distance events, highlighted by Hannah Diete's victory in the 1,500 meters (4:29.8). Tampa continued its dominance in the 5,000 meters, sweeping the podium as Emily Kriney won the conference title in 17:37.1, followed by Lindsey Volkman and Abby Tudeen in second and third.
The Spartans added key points in the 10,000 meters behind Camryn Sattler's third‑place finish, while the 3,000‑meter steeplechase again proved to be a strength as Mary Richmond claimed the conference title in 11:08.0, followed closely by Maddie Gordon in second. Tampa's hurdle group delivered one of the defining performances of the meet, as Allison Murphy won the 400‑meter hurdles (1:00.6) and was joined by Kate Carter, Madison Tweedie, Taylor Robinson, and Ava Stout, all finishing inside the top five. Murphy and Carter also scored heavily in the 100‑meter hurdles.
Tampa added additional points across the sprints and relays, including podium finishes in the women's 4x100 and 4x400, as the Spartans closed the weekend with their second straight SSC women's championship and a sweep of both team titles.
Team Standings
Men's Team Scores
- Tampa – 114
- Embry‑Riddle – 110
- Florida Southern – 69
- Lynn – 51
- Nova Southeastern – 37
- Florida Tech – 25
- Saint Leo – 24
- Barry – 22
- Eckerd – 6
- Palm Beach Atlantic – 6
Women's Team Scores
- Tampa – 169
- Embry‑Riddle – 103
- Nova Southeastern – 79
- Barry – 39
- Lynn – 23
- Florida Southern – 22
- Saint Leo – 18
- Palm Beach Atlantic – 11
- Eckerd – 3
Sunshine State Conference Champions (Tampa)
Men
- 800 Meters: Zach Kehler – 1:51.7
- 1,500 Meters: Zach Kehler – 3:48.1
- 5,000 Meters: Zach Kehler – 15:03.7
- 3,000m Steeplechase: William Poe – 9:21.5
Women
- 1,500 Meters: Hannah Diete – 4:29.8
- 5,000 Meters: Emily Kriney – 17:37.1
- 3,000m Steeplechase: Mary Richmond – 11:08.0
- 400m Hurdles: Allison Murphy – 1:00.6
Top Tampa Performers (Men)
100 Meters:
In the men's 100 meters, Jacob Khashou led Tampa with a runner‑up finish in 10.36, followed by Calvin Jordan, who placed fourth in 10.49.
200 Meters:
In the men's 200 meters, Khashou was Tampa's top finisher, placing sixth with a time of 21.57 to add key points.
800 Meters:
In the men's 800 meters, Zach Kehler captured the SSC title in 1:51.7, while Joshua Hindman finished fourth (1:53.6) and Cyron Gray placed sixth (1:54.5).
1,500 Meters:
In the men's 1,500 meters, Kehler earned another conference championship, winning the event in 3:48.1. Elijiah Rivera also scored with a sixth‑place finish.
5,000 Meters:
In the men's 5,000 meters, Kehler completed his distance sweep with a conference title in 15:03.7, while William Poe placed fourth and Rivera finished eighth.
10,000 Meters:
In the men's 10,000 meters, Ace Estevez led Tampa with a seventh‑place finish, followed closely by Brandon Witherow in eighth.
110m Hurdles:
In the men's 110‑meter hurdles, Rory Olsen scored for the Spartans with a sixth‑place finish (15.38).
400m Hurdles:
In the men's 400‑meter hurdles, Luca Rius placed third in 54.44, followed closely by Olsen in fourth (54.62).
3,000m Steeplechase:
In the men's 3,000‑meter steeplechase, Tampa dominated the event as William Poe won the SSC championship in 9:21.5, followed by Declan Fiorucci in second, with Hayden Reich adding a fifth‑place finish.
4x100m Relay:
In the men's 4x100‑meter relay, Tampa's quartet of Collin Kavulic, Jacob Khashou, Jayden Leonard, and Calvin Jordan finished second in 41.17.
4x400m Relay:
In the men's 4x400‑meter relay, the Spartans placed fifth overall in 3:20.0.
Top Tampa Performers (Women)
100 Meters:
In the women's 100 meters, Chloe Green led the Spartans with a fourth‑place finish in 12.22.
200 Meters:
In the women's 200 meters, Allison Murphy earned a third‑place finish (25.02), followed by Green in sixth (25.51).
400 Meters:
In the women's 400 meters, Taylor Robinson paced Tampa with a fifth‑place finish in 57.66, followed by Marielle Clayton in sixth (57.93).
800 Meters:
In the women's 800 meters, Kendra Krueger finished runner‑up with a time of 2:11.1, while Hannah Diete added points in sixth (2:12.3).
1,500 Meters:
In the women's 1,500 meters, Diete captured the SSC championship in 4:29.8, with Kara Bergeron placing fourth.
5,000 Meters:
In the women's 5,000 meters, Tampa swept the podium as Emily Kriney won the conference title (17:37.1), followed by Lindsey Volkman in second and Abby Tudeen in third.
10,000 Meters:
In the women's 10,000 meters, Camryn Sattler led the Spartans with a third‑place finish, while Alaina Williams placed fifth.
100m Hurdles:
In the women's 100‑meter hurdles, Murphy finished second (14.31), and Kate Carter followed in third (14.35).
400m Hurdles:
In the women's 400‑meter hurdles, the Spartans dominated the event as Murphy claimed the conference title in 1:00.6, followed by Carter (second), Madi Tweedie (third), Robinson (fourth), and Ava Stout (fifth).
3,000m Steeplechase:
In the women's 3,000‑meter steeplechase, Tampa went 1–2, as Mary Richmond captured the SSC title in 11:08.0, followed by Madelyn Gordon in second.
4x100m Relay:
In the women's 4x100‑meter relay, Tampa's squad placed third in 47.38.
4x400m Relay:
In the women's 4x400‑meter relay, the Spartans closed the meet with a second‑place finish in 3:53.4.
Up Next
Tampa returns to action at the UNF East Coast Relays on May 1 at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
