Rebecca DeKay wins the Southland 10,000 Meter Championship

DAY ONE RESULTS | PHOTOS (SLC)

NEW ORLEANS – In her first ever 10K University of New Orleans junior Rebecca DeKay won the Southland Conference Championship on the opening night of the 2023 Southland Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

DeKay finished her race in 37:31.24, collecting 10 points for the Privateer women. Mathilde Helms-Kjaer finished in sixth place and earned 3 points after a time of 38:25.36, and Michelle Folk knocked almost 50 seconds off her previous personal best and earned two more points for the UNO women with a seventh-place finish in 39:10.71. 

Earlier in the evening, four Privateers qualified for the men’s 1500 finals on Saturday. Kelvin Chiku led the way for New Orleans with the third best time among the two qualifying races after finishing in 3:57.78. Jaden Forester led his heat late but finished in second with a time of 3:58.09. Also qualifying were Cade Litolff with a time of 3:58.44 and Mason Appleton who set a new personal best with a time of 3:59.69.

At the 200-meter distance Vivette Green qualified for the finals on Saturday evening. Green won her heat and placed fifth overall after clocking a 24.32. Elliott Cummings looked to have qualified with a time of 21.41 in heat four but was beaten out for the last spot by Simon Wulff of Northwestern State during the last heat of the men’s 200. Mason Melancon was fractions of a second away from qualifying as well after finishing with a personal best of 21.418.

Next to qualify for a final for the Privateers was Jayden Sloan. Sloan finished sixth overall with a time of 52.88 in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.

Early in the afternoon session Matthew Christy’s hammer throw of 49.66 meters beat his previous personal best by almost two meters. The Brother Martin product finished in sixth place, collecting three points for the Privateer men.

Briana Bell set a new personal best as well with her first hammer throw of the afternoon – a 46.74 meter toss. Bell finished the women’s hammer in 7^th place while Karena Grigenas finished in 11^th place with her best throw being 42.26 meters. Bell’s efforts picked up two points for the Privateer women.

Headed into Friday the New Orleans men sit in sixth place with six points, the women sit in fourth place with 17 points. Day two of the 2023 Southland Outdoor Championships get underway for New Orleans at 3:00 p.m. and can be viewed live on ESPN+.

DAY ONE RESULTS
Women’s Hammer
7 Briana Bell 46.74m pb (2pts)
11 Karena Grigenas 42.26m

Men’s Hammer
6 Matthew Christy 49.66m pb (3pts)

Men’s 1500 Prelims
3 Kelvin Chiku 3:57.77 Q
4 Jaden Forester 3:58.09 Q
7 Cade Litolff 3:58.44 Q
11 Mason Appleton 3:59.69 q pb
15 Alex Soileau 4:04.68

Women’s 200 Prelims
5 Vivette Green 24.32 Q
9 Alimot Alowonle 24.67
12 Trinity Bracey 24.83
16 Aisha Johnson 25.08
18 Helen Baumgarten 25.10 

Men’s 200 Prelims
9 Elliott Cummings 21.41
11 Mason Melancon 21.418 (21.42*) pb
*21.418

Men’s 400 Hurdles Prelims
6 Jayden Sloan 52.88 q

Women’s 10k
1 Rebecca DeKay 37:31.24 (10pts)
6 Mathilde Helms-Kjaer 38:25.36 (3pts)
7 Michelle Folk 39:10.71 pb (2pts)

Men’s 10k
7 Matthew Hansen 32:07.10 (2pts)
8 Gary Sandrock 32:32.97 (1pt)
15 Evan Pardo 35:29.86

HEAD COACH BROCK MOREAUX
“I was pleased overall with how we are coming out of day one. Our throws squad of Briana Bell and Matthew Christy got us started with big PR’s to put us on the board. The running events went smoothly today. Putting four guys into the 1500m final was big for us, Vet solidified her 200m spot, and then five athletes scoring in the 10k. The momentum is set, now we just need to keep it moving forward so we can get more names on the entry list going into championship Saturday.” 

(on Rebecca DeKay)
“Rebecca ran a beautiful race! It was a game of patience for 30 minutes and she played it perfectly. I’m so proud of her poise and grit – she earned that one!”

SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up to date with everything New Orleans Cross Country and Track & Field. Follow @PrivateersTFXC on Twitter, @PrivateersTFXC on Instagram, like /PrivateersTFXC on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.