Simmons Earns All-Conference on Final Day of Indoor Championships

Saturday, February 28

Lexington, Va.

Chattanooga

Southern Conference Championships

Three track athletes on the podium at the championships.

Photo by: SoConSports.com

2/28/2026 9:38:00 PM | Cross Country & Track & Field

LEXINGTON, Va. --- Ryleigh Simmons earned all-conference honors Saturday on the final day of the Southern Conference Championships at the VMI Corps Physical Training Center in Lexington, Va.

Simmons ran a personal best time 24.62 seconds, just 0.23 seconds off the Chattanooga program record. The sophomore sprinter also scored in the 60 meter dash, finishing fifth overall with a time of 7.71 seconds.

Freshman Halle Carden just missed an all-conference finish in the high jump, placing fourth with a height of 1.63 meters (5-04.25). She was the top finishing newcomer and was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team. She also picked up honors in the Triple Jump where she recorded a leap of 10.78 meters (35-04.50) and was named to the All-Freshman Team.

Also earning All-Freshman honors is Bella King who was the third freshman across the line with a time of 5:02.96.

Maddie Wheatcroft placed fourth in the Mile with a personal best time of 4:54.11, scoring five points for the Mocs while Leah Boyd Mitchell hit a season-high, finishing eighth with a time of 5:01.97 and picking up another point.

Lola Baker and Aubrey Park each hit personal best times in the 5000 meter. Park finished second in Section B of the distance race with a time of 18:25.99. Baker, in Section A, posted a time of 18:12.60.

Chattanooga placed seventh overall with 27 points. The Mocs open the outdoor season in three weeks at the Lee University Invite March 20-21 in Cleveland, Tenn.

FROM THE HEAD COACH STEVE PICUCCI
"Proud of the way we responded to some adversity today. Everyone put everything they had into their races this weekend and that's all you can ask for as a head coach."

"Had some really strong performances on Day Two. The highlight would have to be Ryleigh [Simmons] bouncing back after the 60m and getting on the podium in the 200m."

"There are some areas we will need to address before the outdoor season gets going! Overall a great ending to the indoor season."

All-Conference
Ryleigh Simmons, 200 meter

All-Freshman Team
Halle Carden, High Jump
Bella King, Mile
Halle Carden, Triple Jump

Saturday Results

High Jump
4	Halle Carden	1.63 meters [5-04.25]		5 pts

Triple Jump
10	Halle Carden	10.78m [35-04.50]

5000 meter – Section B
2	Aubrey Park	18:25.99	PR
3	Ellie von Herrmann	18:49.99
4	Emma Thweatt	19:36.46

Mile
4	Maddie Wheatcroft	4:54.11	PR	5 pts
8	Leah Boyd Mitchell	5:01.97	SB	1 pt
9	Bella King	5:02.96	PR

60 meter
5	Ryleigh Simmons	7.71		4 pts

200 meter
3	Ryleigh Simmons	24.62	PR	6 pts

5000 meter – Section A
14	Andrea Ellis	18:07.38
15	Lola Baker	18:12.60	PR

4x400 meter relay
9	Chattanooga	4:06.98
	N.Haney, A.McGue, T.Crawford, M.Wheatcroft

Friday Results

3000 meter – Section B
1	Aubrey Park	10:32.35	PR
3	Ellie von Herrmann	10:45.92	PR
4	Scarlett Nash	11:13.52

Mile – Prelims
7	Maddie Wheatcroft	5:11.18		Q
9	Leah Boyd Mitchell	5:12.10		q
10	Bella King	5:12.34		q
13	Maya McCloskey	5:16.62

60 meter – Prelims
3	Ryleigh Simmons	7.62	PR	Q

400 meter – Prelims
15	Ava McGue	1:00.18

200 meter – Prelims
6	Ryleigh Simmons	24.89	SB	Q

Distance Medley Relay
3	Chattanooga A	12:06.69		6 pts
	M.Wheatcroft, N.Haney, T.Crawford, L.Boyd Mitchell

Long Jump
14	Ava McGue	5.17m [16-11.50
15	Norah Haney	5.04m [16-06.50]

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