WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— The Montreat College women's track & field team competed on Thursday and Friday at the 2026 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. Behind 21 scoring performances, 11 All-Conference efforts and three individual event titles, the Cavaliers racked up 119 points as a squad, good for third out of 12 scoring programs.
 
Milligan University won the conference meet with 175 points, while Columbia College finished runner-up after accumulating 129 points. The Cavs accrued three more points than Brenau University, which finished fourth.
 
A total of seven scoring efforts combined for 40 points through one day of action in Winston-Salem. The Cavaliers sat in fourth overall after seven of the 20 events were scored by Thursday's end.
 
Emma Barnes got the meet started off on a high note, setting or matching school records in the 60m hurdles prelims and the 60m dash prelims. In the former event, Barnes won the race to qualify for Friday's finals. The Waxhaw, N.C. native's 8.99-second 60m hurdles time broke her own program mark by 0.31 seconds. Meanwhile, Barnes also qualified for the 60m dash finals after sprinting to a third-place finish on Thursday. The senior matched the school record when she turned in a time of 7.95 seconds.
 
Lydia Norman got the Cavs on the scoreboard with a career-best showing in the triple jump. Saving her best for last, Norman registered a leap of 11.46m, crushing her previous personal best by 0.40m. The Sylva, N.C. native placed runner-up in the event out of nine competitors, securing All-Conference honors in the process.
 
Montreat's first All-Conference nod on the track came courtesy of Macy Parks. Running in the 1000m, Parks delivered a personal-best and NAIA 'B' standard time of 2:59.08, good for third out of 11 participants. Meanwhile, Heather Murphy scored the Cavaliers' initial individual title on Thursday by beating a 5000m field of 15 athletes. Murphy also ran a 'B' standard time, completing her race and seizing All-Conference and event champion recognition in 17:36.90.
 
Thursday's action ended with the distance medley relay, where the Cavs notched their fourth and final All-Conference effort of the opening day. Ragan Speer, Jasmine Hernandez, Natalia Nieto and Murphy combined for a 13:12.27 showing, which captured third place out of 10 relay squads.
 
Friday proved to be another successful day for Montreat, with the Cavaliers adding two titles, eight All-Conference showings and 14 scoring performances. In total, the Cavs scored 79 points on day two of the AAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, bringing their final tally to 119 points.
 
Picking up where she left off, Barnes opened Friday's slate by claiming the AAC title and All-Conference status in the 60m hurdles finals. Barnes marched her way to a 9.06-second time, beating out six other athletes. Also during the morning window, Barnes topped a 16-participant field in the shot put for her second event crown. The senior destroyed her own school record, hurling her implement 12.88m on her final attempt to take first place and All-Conference honors along with it.
 
Montreat's final All-Conference nod of the morning came in the 4x800m relay. Elena Fibraio, Nieto, Hernandez and Carlyn Bobo teamed up for a time of 10:06.95, landing on the podium thanks to their third-place finish.
 
The Cavaliers notched several runner-up marks Friday afternoon. Murphy achieved two of those performances, concluding second of 14 in the 3000m and second of 15 in the mile. The Portarlington, Ireland native's 9:50.96 showing met the NAIA 'A' standard for the 3000m. Murphy wrapped up her mile in 5:06.10, narrowly missing the 'B' standard. She achieved All-Conference status for both finishes.
 
Hernandez closed out the 600m in second place on day two. Shaving 2.70 seconds off her prior personal best, Hernandez needed just 1:41.71 to finish her race this go-around. Nieto crossed the line just one spot behind her teammate to end third (1:44.51). Both garnered All-Conference honors for their top-three placements.
 
Barnes, Norman, Hernandez and Nieto put a bow on the weekend for the Cavs. Running the 4x400m relay, the foursome delivered an All-Conference effort thanks to their third-place time of 4:20.34.
 
After the meet, the AAC announced several additional awards and honors. Barnes was tabbed as the Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year for her remarkable championship performance.
 
"We could not ask for a better group of young women to represent Montreat College," said head coach Jacob Simms. "With a slew of major performances, records and personal bests, this team continues to shine brightest when it matters most and in the way it matters most. This group is truly a gift from God."
 
For a complete look at results from the 2026 AAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, click here.
 
Select qualifiers from the Montreat College women's track & field team now turn their attention to the 46^th edition of the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, which are slated for March 5-7 at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center in Gainesville, Fla.