The IU Kokomo Track and Field teams competed in Logan, OH for the indoor River States Conference championship. The women’s team finished second, racking up a total of 121 points, both the placement and points scored are program bests. The men’s team also achieved program bests in placement and points scored, placing fourth with 73 points.  

The women were led by sophomore Makala Pfefferkorn who scored an impressive 31 points across four events. Pfefferkorn took home first place in the triple jump, long jump, and 60-meter hurdles. Pfefferkorn was also named the River States Conference newcomer of the year, and was the IU Kokomo representative for the women’s champion of character award 

“I was super blessed to be named newcomer of the year and to be voted by teammates as the champion of character,” Pfefferkorn said. “We have all worked so hard for this moment and I want to thank Coach Misty, who inspires and pushes me to be my very best.”  

Notable point scorers were senior Casey Pfefferkorn scoring 12.5, freshmen Leslie Sprankles with 11.5, junior Emma Byrum with 10, senior Lanie Pocock with 10, sophomore Madison Dotlich with 8, freshmen Faith Rock with 8, and senior Elizabeth Smith with 6. 

Pfefferkorn and Sprankles were two of the legs on the distance medley relay team which set the meet record and beat second place by 12 seconds. Pocock, Dotlich, and Smith snagged first, second, and third respectively in the 3000-meter racewalk. Byrum and Rock went first and second in the shot put.  

The men’s teams’ notable scorers were junior Julian Wallace with 11, sophomore Drew Caldwell with 10, freshmen Gabriel Wedmore with 9, junior Nolan Talley with 8, and sophomore Nick Anders with 6. Wallace finished second in the 600-meter run and was a leg on the 4×400-meter relay team that also finished second. Caldwell finished second in the 800-meter run and was a leg on the distance medley relay team that finished second. Wedmore finished second in the shot put. Talley placed third in the high jump and was a leg on the 4×400 relay team. Talley also was the men’s representative for the RSC champion of character award. Anders finished in third place in the 3000-meter racewalk.  

“We had several outstanding performances,” Coach Josh Colvin said in his post-meet interview. “We had several all-conference performers, school records getting taken down, personal records set, and Makala qualified for the NAIA national meet in the 60-meter hurdles. I am so proud of this team and am thankful to be able to call myself their coach.” Colvin was named the women’s team coach of the year.  

“Winning this award is a culmination of having an excellent staff my assistants are awesome, associate head coach Jordan Fivecoate, sprints coach Misty Pfefferkorn, and throws coach Grant Gaylor,” Colvin said. 

The Cougars will get a short break before they are back at it this time for the outdoor track season at Indiana Wesleyan University on March 25.