BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Going into the Southland Conference Indoor Championships, Roy Morris and Samari Finney led the Southland Conference in men's and women's long jump. The pair once again proved it on the conference's biggest stage.

Morris and Finney dominated in the jumps, as they each took home the gold in their events at the first day of the SLC Indoor Championships on Wednesday at the Birmingham Crossplex.

"We had a pretty good day today," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "We were not perfect but really good. The multis started us off on the right track with Bruce coming off of hip surgery in August and willing to burn his redshirt year to try and help the men's team win a title. That just shows his character and his commitment to the team. Thea setting a school record on her way to her third-place finish—her 800 was gutsy and a thing to watch.

"The long jumps were awesome. Roy and Samari winning is always special. Vic and Elijah did well, going back and forth from multiple events. The sprinters were spectacular; we dang near hit everything we needed to for tomorrow. We have put ourselves in a good position to try and bring home some team titles. It won't be easy but this group wouldn't want it any other way."

In his young career with the Demons, Morris had done just about everything. Last outdoor season, he was an All-American and he received a bronze medal in last year's indoor meet.

One accomplishment missing was that elusive SLC Championship gold medal.

That wait is over, as the Evangel Christian Academy product took home the gold on his final jump during the men's long jump.

Morris led the entire way, punctuating it with a 24-9.75 on his final jump. Stephen F. Austin's Bryson Williams had a close jump with a 24-7.75, barely behind Morris' leading jump at the time of 24-8.75, before Morris sealed the deal on his final jump.

"First of all, I want to thank my family and coaching staff for always believing in me and giving me that push I needed," Morris said. "It feels amazing to walk away with the gold. After last season, I went back to the drawing board and physically and mentally prepared myself for this day."

In addition to Morris, Elijah Rowe (23-9.5) also earned points with a fifth-place finish.

On the women's side, Finney just did what she always does. As consistent as anyone in the league, she jumped a 19-8.75 on her second jump to seal the competition, as no one else even broke the 19-foot mark—and Finney did that four times.

All of her non-foul jumps were better than second-place Tina Samson of East Texas A&M, whose jump of 18-10.5 earned her the silver.

After a disappointing 12^th place finish at last year's indoor meet, she left no doubt in this one, winning her second straight long jump title after claiming gold at last year's outdoor championships.""In the

"Lord's will, it is already done," Finney said.

She wasn't the only Lady Demon to earn points in the long jump, as Victoria Byrd's season-best jump of 18-7 earned her sixth place.

While the long jumpers took home the golds, they were not the only ones who reached the podium, as Randy Kelly (men's high jump) won the silver and Thea Ring (women's pentathlon) collected the bronze.

It is Kelly's fifth time on the podium for the high jump, including three silvers.

He was neck-and-neck with eventual winner Antwoine Warren before the UTRGV jumper cleared 7-0.25.

In her first SLC Championships, Ring posted a terrific performance that broke the school record in the women's pentathlon with a score of 3726.

Ring started off finishing seventh in the 60-meter dash with a time of 9.07. Her places progressively were better as the competition moved along, culminating with a pressure 800-meter run, in which she ran a big personal best of 2:17.61 to win the event and take home the bronze.

In the final race, she was behind much of the race before she passed UIW's Lexie Leal, who she was competing for third place with. She crossed the finish line nearly a second before Leal to capture the medal.

Ryah Dates and Abner Johnson each earned points in the weight throw, as Dates (52-0.75) placed seventh on the women's side and Johnson (55-11) finished eighth on the men's side.
Margaret Mannering posted a personal-best 46-3.25 to place 20^th.

Both Aly Jo Warren (11-7.25) and Bryan Lay (15-1) placed sixth and eighth in the women's and men's pole vault, respectively.

On the track, many Demons and Lady Demons qualified for Thursday's finals.

Kalen Beavers won the prelims in the 200-meter dash, clocking a 21.06 to qualify for the finals. Rowe (21.72) placed fourth, Keontae Gaines (21.34) finished 21.34 finished sixth and Will Achee (21.40) came in seventh to all join Beavers in the 200.

Mikkel Johansson (21.54) just missed out, placing 12^th.

Margaret Conteh (24.27) and Juvonna Cornette (24.28) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, to advance to the women's 200 finals. Cornette's time was a season best.

Dynia Lewis (24.52) narrowly missed out on making the finals, finishing in ninth. Dhakiya Blake (24.89) placed 14^th.

In the women's 400-meter dash, Rushana Dwyer won the prelims with a run of 53.17, leading three of the top five.

Margaret Conteh (53.70) came in third and Kahliyah Anderson (55.73) came in fifth.

Jayla Mason (56.88) and Finney (57.14) both posted season bests to place 13^th and 16^th, respectively.

Three of the top five in the men's 400 were Demons, led by Will Achee, who ran a 47.49 to finish second. Desmond Duncan (47.91) and Kason Jones (48.06) came in fourth and fifth, respectively, to also qualify for finals.

Four Lady Demons are in the 60-meter dash finals, led by Sileena Farrell, who ran a 7.51. Cornette also ran a 7.51 to finish fourth and Dynia Lewis finished fifth. Maria Umoibang finished seventh with a run of 7.54.

While she finished just outside the finals, Victoria Byrd placed 13^th with a season-best time of 7.75.

Gaines finished second in the men's 60-meter dash, while Beavers finished fourth and Eddy Vu came in fifth. Rowe placed just outside the top eight in 11^th with a 6.88.

Dynia Lewis (8.64) and Brian Fisher (8.19) each reached the 60-meter hurdle finals as well.

Bruce Boon is currently eighth in the men's heptathlon with three more events Thursday.

The teams are back in action Thursday, which starts with the men's heptathlon 60-meter hurdles at 9:40 a.m.