NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana – Senior jumper Sarea Alexander made history again for the University of the Incarnate Word Track and Field team Friday evening when she claimed her third Southland Conference long jump title on her first jump - 6.51m (21-4.25). She becomes the first three-time conference champion in UIW Division I history and just the second woman in Southland history to win three outdoor long jump titles.
 
Alexander made her conference-winning mark (6.51m) on her first jump, passing on all three of her jumps in the finals to claim the title by a full 10 centimeters. It was the third longest jump of her illustrious career, giving her three of the seven farthest long jumps in the 56-year history of the Southland, all three coming this season.
 
Jerica Love also contributed points in the women's long jump when she set a new PR on her first jump of the final round – 5.81m (19-0.75). The senior narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing in fifth after contributing four critical points to the Cardinal cause.
 
The UIW women finished the day with 14 points, fifth overall with just five completed events.
 
On the men's side, junior mutli-athlete Rodney Littlejohn headlined the day when he won three of the five decathlon events. Littlejohn was the only competitor to run a sub-eleven second 100m dash when he crossed the line in 10.83 seconds. He followed that by setting a PR in the long jump at 7.29m before exploding out of the gates in the 400m on his way to another PR - 48.78 seconds. He currently sits in second place overall in the decathlon, just 25 points behind the leader.
 
In the men's long jump Clinton Cole secured three team points when he finished sixth with a 7.19m (23-7.25), his third consecutive meet to record a jump of at least 7.15m.
 
In the men's 10k race, redshirt sophomore Tyler Martin battled his way to an eighth-place finish when he crossed the finish in 32:13.42 to add on another point to the UIW total.
 
The men finished the day with four team points after just three scored events. Putting them in a tie for ninth with some of their best events on the docket for tomorrow.
 
While he didn't score any team points, junior thrower Desmond Burnett earned himself a PR in the men's hammer throw as he looks to build on this performance for his senior season.
  
FOLLOW ALONG
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWTrackXC and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.