T&F: Dove Breaks School Record, Sivina Wins Freshman of the Meet

DENTON, Texas – KeAyla Dove set her own school record again in the women's shot put, and Marta Sivina earned Freshman of the Meet accolades as UNT Track & Field wrapped up the 2023 Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Sunday at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.

"Words can't explain how special this conference meet was with so many great performances," head coach Doug Marshall said. "The athletes fought the entire meet and pushed through adversity from start to finish. I think this weekend really motivated our athletes and made us hungry for outdoor."

Dove broke the school record in the women's shot put for the fourth time this season en route to finishing as the Conference USA Runner-Up with a throw of 58-03.75 (17.77m), earning eight points for the Mean Green. Jaleisa Shaffer joined Dove on the podium with a personal best of her own, posting a mark of 53-05.00 (16.28m) to finish in third place and give UNT six points. Macayla Needham made it 18 total points in the event for the Mean Green with four of her own to place fifth with a mark of 49-00.75 (14.95m).

"The entire shot put group shined for our women's team," Marshall said. "KeAyla has broken the school record four times this year. What she threw this weekend would've medaled at the USA indoor championships. Jaleisa and Macayla both came through with huge PRs on their last throws to help the group score 18 points."

The UNT men's 4x400-meter relay team of Zavion Langrin, Evan Nichols, Samir Williams and Davonye Jones earned the silver medal and a spot on the podium with a time of 3:14.28.

"The men had a full team effort," Marshall said. "We scored points in the sprints, hurdles, distance, relays, vault, and multi. I loved the way the 4x4 finished the meet, getting second. They fought hard, and that's all we ask from everybody."

Daniel Jenkins made it to the podium as well for the Mean Green, placing third in the men's heptathlon with a total score of 4767, netting six points for UNT. Romet Vahter added three points for the Mean Green, finishing sixth with a score of 4082.

Karlington Anunagba finished fifth in both the 60 meters and 200 meters, and Samir Williams placed seventh in the same events. Anunagba recorded times of 6.80 and 21.47, while Williams clocked times of 6.82 and 21.81. The duo scored 12 points between the two events.

The Mean Green had three student-athletes finish in the top eight of the men's 60-meter hurdles. Abdulsamad Sanusi placed sixth with a time of 8.44, Jordan Coates-McBride took seventh with a time of 8.47, and Jomauri Murray placed eighth as the group totaled six points for UNT.

Naz Reddick placed sixth in the women's long jump with a mark of 5-03.75 (1.62m) to earn three points, and Mason Garner took seventh in the men's mile with a time of 4:11.30 to close out the Mean Green scoring with two points.

The UNT men's team finished in sixth place overall with 48 total points, and the women's team placed seventh with 40 points. Marta Sivina, who won the conference title in the women's pentathlon on Saturday, was named 2023 Conference USA Women's Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Meet for her performance.

"Marta's performance this weekend was amazing and proves that she is one of the best young athletes in the nation," Marshall said. "She battled through injury and a ton of adversity to win her first conference championship, and that says a lot about the type of teammate and person she is."

The NCAA Indoor Championships will take place March 10 in Albuquerque, N.M., and the Mean Green will also kick off the outdoor season that same day at the UNT vs. UTA Dual in Arlington, Texas.

"Our teams fought hard this weekend and came up short as well in a lot of places," Marshall said. "We will evaluate everything from this indoor season and get prepared for outdoor. This weekend was the beginning of something special."

Be sure to keep an eye on MeanGreenSports.com, follow Mean Green Sports on social media @MeanGreenSports and Mean Green track & field/cross country at @MeanGreenTFXC for all of the latest information.

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T&F: Dove Breaks School Record, Sivina Wins Freshman of the Meet

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Players Mentioned

Karlington Anunagba

Jordan Coates-McBride

KeAyla Dove

Mason Garner

Davonye Jones

Zavion Langrin

Jomauri Murray

Macayla Needham

Evan Nichols

Abdulsamad Sanusi

Jaleisa Shaffer

Samir Williams

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