Tech heads to Cape Girardeau, Mo. for OVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships

OVC Championships Schedule of Events

By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech outdoor track and field team travels to Cape Girardeau, Mo., for the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, competing at Abe Stube Track Complex Thursday through Saturday.

OVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Information
May 15-17, 2025 – Located at the Abe Stuber Track Complex on the campus of Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Thursday's action will kick off with multi events at 9:00 a.m. CT, field events at 12:30 p.m., and running events at 5:00 p.m. Friday will commence at 9:00 a.m. with multi events and also feature field events starting at 2:30 p.m. and running events at 5:00 p.m. Saturday will open with field events at 11:00 a.m. and running events at 12:30 p.m.

What to Watch For
The Golden Eagles closed out the regular season back on May 3 after two strong days of results at the Music City Challenge. Tech dropped numerous personal records and strong showings in its final tune-up for the OVC Championships. 

Sophomore Naomy Lokiles led the charge with a historic showing in the 5,000-meter run, delivering the third-fastest time in program history. The Kitale, Kenya native set a new personal record with a mark of 16:45.00, the second-best time in the OVC this season. 

Producing the fourth-fastest 5K in the league this season, sophomore Makaleigh Jessee turned in a PR of her own, crossing the finish line at 17:18.56. Rookie Megan Forstner rounded out the spectacular display in the 5K for the purple and gold, cracking the OVC's top-20 with a new career-best time of 18:17.24.

Securing the third-best performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the OVC this season, junior Kendall Johnson continued progressing with a big PR of 11:17.67. Freshman Rachael Brewer enjoyed another successful run in the 400-meter hurdles, completing the event at 1:04.37.

In the 1,500-meter run, youngsters Rylee Wells and Hayley Stegall each chalked up new personal bests, with the rookie Wells leading the way with a mark of 4:39.83. The sophomore Stegall followed closely with a time of 4:46.90.

Junior Paris Bowles turned in a nice showing of 2:15.12 in the 800-meter run while a quartet represented the purple and gold well in the 4x400-meter relay. Bowles teamed up with Kategie Casseus, Hannah Little, and Aliyah Kennedy to clock in at 3:57.74.

In the field, sophomores Ally Beneke and Madison Johnson paced the Cookeville crew with strong performances in the high jump. Benek, the reigning OVC Female Field Athlete of the Week, cleared 1.72 meters (5'7.75") while Johnson turned in a career-best mark of 1.67 meters (5'5.75").

Freshman Tyla Street made the finals in the triple jump, launching to a distance of 11.39 meters (37'4.5").

Photo by Reily Rogers