App State Track and Field Places Fourth at Sun Belt Indoor Championship

Mountaineers set new school record in 4x400-meter relay

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Appalachian State women's track and field team competed in the Sun Belt Indoor Championship in Birmingham, Alabama, where they placed fourth overall with 70.33 points. Several Mountaineer athletes had strong individual performances, including a second-place finish in the 60-meter dash, a new school record in the 4x400-meter relay, and a first-place finish in the women's pole vault.

Why it matters

The Sun Belt Indoor Championship is a key event for the Appalachian State track and field program, as it showcases the team's talent and provides an opportunity to qualify athletes for the upcoming USA Track & Field Indoor Championships.

The details

In the 60-meter dash, junior Kendall Johnson qualified for the finals with a time of 7.32 seconds and went on to take second place with a time of 7.36 seconds. In the 200-meter dash, Johnson and senior Damyja Alejandro-Ortiz both advanced to the finals, with Johnson placing sixth and Alejandro-Ortiz placing eighth. In the 400-meter dash, junior Jayla Adams placed fourth and Alejandro-Ortiz placed fifth. In the 800-meter run, senior Addison Ollendick-Smith placed fourth and freshman Josie Jackson placed seventh. The Mountaineers' 4x400-meter relay team of Wells, Adams, Linder, and Alejandro-Ortiz set a new school record with a time of 3:41.81, placing third. In the women's pole vault, senior Ava Studney took first place with a jump of 4.08 meters, and sophomore Lilly Nichols placed third with a height of 3.88 meters.

  • The Sun Belt Indoor Championship took place on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.
  • The Mountaineers will travel to Staten Island, New York to compete in the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships on Saturday, February 29, 2026.

The players

Kendall Johnson

A junior on the Appalachian State women's track and field team who placed second in the 60-meter dash and sixth in the 200-meter dash at the Sun Belt Indoor Championship.

Damyja Alejandro-Ortiz

A senior on the Appalachian State women's track and field team who placed eighth in the 200-meter dash and fifth in the 400-meter dash at the Sun Belt Indoor Championship.

Jayla Adams

A junior on the Appalachian State women's track and field team who placed fourth in the 400-meter dash at the Sun Belt Indoor Championship.

Addison Ollendick-Smith

A senior on the Appalachian State women's track and field team who placed fourth in the 800-meter run at the Sun Belt Indoor Championship.

Ava Studney

A senior on the Appalachian State women's track and field team who won the women's pole vault event at the Sun Belt Indoor Championship with a jump of 4.08 meters.

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What they’re saying

“We're really proud of the team's performance at the Sun Belt Indoor Championship. The athletes put in a lot of hard work, and it's great to see that pay off with some strong individual and relay results.”

— Doug Gillin, Appalachian State Athletic Director (theappalachianonline.com)

What’s next

The Mountaineers will travel to Staten Island, New York to compete in the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships on Saturday, February 29, 2026.

The takeaway

Appalachian State's women's track and field team demonstrated their depth and talent at the Sun Belt Indoor Championship, setting a new school record in the 4x400-meter relay and earning several individual podium finishes. This performance positions the Mountaineers well for the upcoming USA Track & Field Indoor Championships, where they will look to continue their strong season.