Bulldogs Win Fourth Straight SAC Men Outdoor Track and Field Championship

EMORY, Va. (TheSAC.com) – The Wingate Bulldogs claimed the 2026 South Atlantic Conference Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship, totaling 211.5 points to secure the title. Wingate finished well ahead of Catawba, who placed second with 109 points, while Carson-Newman finished third with 95.5 points.

Individually, Catawba's Jayden Bennermon was named the Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet after a dominant showing across the jumps . Bennermon captured gold in both the high jump (2.07m) and triple jump (15.15m) while adding a third-place finish in the long jump (7.06m), totaling 25 team points for the Indians.

Carson-Newman's Rylan Jordan was named the Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet following a standout performance on the track . Jordan earned gold in the 200 meters with a time of 20.44 and added a runner-up finish in the 100 meters with a time of 10.15. He also helped lead the Eagles' 4x100-meter relay team to gold with a time of 39.91.

The SAC Freshman of the Year honor went to Anderson's Avery Butler, who scored in multiple throwing events . Butler placed second in the discus (46.62m) and fourth in the shot put (14.48m), totaling 13 points for the Trojans.

Catawba's Jason Bryan was named the SAC Men's Coach of the Year after guiding the Indians to a runner-up finish with 109 team points.

Lenoir-Rhyne placed fourth with 81 points, followed by Anderson in fifth with 77 points. Tusculum finished sixth with 70 points, while Newberry (57 points) and Mars Hill (38 points) rounded out the top eight.

Emory & Henry finished ninth with 31.5 points, followed by Lincoln Memorial in 10th with 22 points and Coker in 11th with 13 points. UVA Wise rounded out the standings in 12th with 11.5 points.

Wingate's depth proved to be the difference, as the Bulldogs scored consistently across both track and field events to separate from the field and secure the conference crown.

Catawba was paced by Bennermon's standout performance in the jumps, while Carson-Newman leaned on Jordan's elite sprinting efforts to secure a third-place finish. Anderson's throws group, highlighted by Butler, played a key role in the Trojans' top-five finish.

Men's Final Standings

1. Wingate – 211.5
2. Catawba – 109
3. Carson-Newman – 95.5
4. Lenoir-Rhyne – 81
5. Anderson – 77
6. Tusculum – 70
7. Newberry – 57
8. Mars Hill – 38
9. Emory & Henry – 31.5
10. Lincoln Memorial – 22
11. Coker – 13
12. UVA Wise – 11.5