Johnson City, Tenn. – The Belmont men’s and women’s track and field teams both finished among the top-three and picked up eight individual conference championships as they competed at the Atlantic Sun Championships this weekend in Johnson City, Tennessee. The BU women finished second, tied for their best finish at the championships, while the men placed third, their best finish at the conference outdoor meet.

The Belmont women finished second with 97 points, 82 behind conference champion Jacksonville. The Bruins won four individual championships, posted 16 top-five finishes, and set three school records.

After Christa Coppin won the pole vault title on Friday and qualified for NCAA Regionals, the Bruins kept it going on Saturday. Sophomore Lynette Rives led the way as she captured one title and was a part of two more. Rives won the 200 meters with a time of 23.95 and was member of BU’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that captured conference crowns. In addition, she also placed second in the 100 meters and finished fifth in the long jump.

The Belmont relay teams qualified for NCAA Regionals with their performance on Saturday. The 4x100 relay team won their event with a school record time of 45.64, while the 4x400 relay team was victorious with a time of 3:35.78.

Sophomore Lizz Pollock also had a great day as she finished second in both the 100 and 400 meter hurdles. She set a new school record in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.47. Freshman Brittany Thune also had a solid day as she placed second in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:49.25. In addition, freshman Elizabeth Codrington set a new school record in the triple jump with a mark of 37-07.25.

On the men’s side, Belmont finished third with 129 points, 63 behind champion ETSU and 19 behind second place Gardner-Webb. The Bruins won four individual titles, including three on Saturday, and had a total of 20 top-five finishes over the two days.

Junior Kipkosgei (Collin) Magut was the meet’s Most Outstanding Track Performer with his performance in the middle distance and distance events. It marked the second straight year he has won this award. He won the 800 meters with a time of 1:54.37 and placed second in the 1500 and 5000 meters.

Senior Ryan Snellen closed out his career with an individual title in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:00.49. He also finished third in the 5000 meters. Junior Jacob Buckman won his third 5000 meter conference title on Saturday with a time of 15:01.73. He won his previous title in 2005.

In addition, freshman DeRay Sloss finished third and fourth respectively in the 400 and 110 meter hurdles and freshman Hillary Cheruiyot placed second in the 300 meter steeplechase.

In total, Belmont earned 23 All-Conference awards, 13 on the men’s side and 10 on the women’s side.

Up next for the Belmont track and field teams is the NCAA Mideast Regionals, which will be held May 25-26 at the University of Missouri. Several Belmont men’s and women’s athletes will be competing at that meet.