LEXINGTON, Va. (February 28, 2025) - Returning to the scene of her SoCon leading shot put mark from earlier this season, Lexi Carter could not surpass her season best from January - but she was the closest one to it on Friday.

The freshman posted an unassailable 12.87m to win gold in the shot put at the 2025 SoCon Indoor Track & Field Championships, the first Buccaneer to win it since Angie Barker in 1989. Carter's win led the charge as several freshmen made their mark on day one of the two-day event.

Elsewhere in the field events, freshman Akera Molette matched a personal record and reached the final round of the high jump after clearing 1.65m, good for a fourth-place finish. Senior Tya Blake finished fifth in the long jump at 5.53m, a season-best mark.

On the track, freshman sprinter Micailah Cook posted the fastest time in the 200m prelims with a season best 24.74 to advance to the finals on Saturday. Cook also advanced to the finals in the 400m with a 57.429.

In the distance races, junior Sophie Beach finished sixth in the women's 3000m with a personal record 10:09.51. Freshman Julia Visgueiro, running the mile for just the second time this season, posted a personal record 5:09.04, finishing third in her heat and third-fastest overall in the prelims. Freshman Deena Ludtke and senior Bonita Gray also advanced to the finals of the mile tomorrow, while junior Meg Lance advanced to the finals of the women's 800m after finishing third in her heat with a 2:16.51, a season-best mark. Visgueiro, Gray, Lance, and sophomore Gabriella Rodriguez finished third in the women's distance medley relay with a combined time of 12:22.74.

ETSU sits fifth overall after day one with 28 points. Nine-time reigning champion Samford leads with 53 points.

The Bucs return to competition tomorrow, beginning with Blake, Molette, and Jasmine Greenidge in the triple jump and Tyla Nicholson and Morri Howell in the weight throw at 10:00 a.m.
For more information on ETSU women's track and field, go to ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's track and field tab.