Cedar Rapids, Iowa – The Central Methodist women's track & field team continued its run of dominance this past weekend, capturing the 2026 Heart of America Athletic Conference Outdoor Championship with a commanding 237.5 points.

The Eagles outdistanced runner-up Benedictine (198.83) and third-place Park (84) in a meet that showcased both depth and star power across the roster.

The outdoor title marks Central's third in the last four seasons and its seventh conference championship—indoor or outdoor—over the past six years. With the victory, the Eagles also secured their second consecutive sweep of the Heart indoor and outdoor team titles.

CMU set the tone early and never relented, scoring in 23 events and piling up points in every discipline—from sprints and hurdles to field events and relays.

Freshman standout Akeelah Knox delivered a breakout performance, claiming individual conference titles in both the 100-meter hurdles (13.88) and 200 meters (23.77). She added a qualifying mark in the 200 prelims and led a dominant showing in the hurdles, where the Eagles placed six athletes in the finals and scored 26 total points.

For her efforts over the weekend, Knox was tabbed as the highest freshman point scorer with 20 points.

The sprint corps continued to shine in the 100 meters, led by senior Zakiya Porter, who placed second (11.99). Maria Sahagun (5^th – 12.27) and Zyaire Robinson (6^th – 12.31) added valuable points. In the 200-meter final, Knox's win was complemented by Bailey Arceneaux (3^rd – 24.26), Porter (5^th – 24.53), and Sahagun (6^th – 24.65), as CMU stacked points in another key event.

Arceneaux returned to win the 400 meters in a personal-best 54.76, while teammates Deborah Martinez (2^nd -55.55), Allena Rowland (3^rd – 55.70), and Aroa Carballo (4^th – 56.21) completed a dominant 1-2-3-4 finish that swung the meet firmly in CMU's favor.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Shannon O'Neil claimed the conference title (1:00.44), leading another strong group effort that included Carballo (2^nd – 1:00.90), Rowland (3^rd – 1:01.18), Anaya Little (5^th – 1:03.98), and Hannah Reed (7^th – 1:04.88).

The Eagles were equally impressive in the field events. Haley Bellamy captured titles in both the high jump (1.62m) and long jump (5.85m), while also contributing points in the 100-meter hurdles (5^th – 14.47). Annemarie Koerner added a runner-up finish in the long jump (5.73) and scored in multiple events.

Senior Joana Vakasobuduru highlighted the throws group with a second-place and new school record finish in the javelin (44.01m) and third place standing in the shot put (12.84m), while also contributing additional team points.

In the relays, Central Methodist swept both the 4x100 and 4x400 events. The 4x100 team of Porter, Arceneaux, Sahagun, and Robinson posted a winning time of 46.23, while the 4x400 squad of Diane Ondobo, Carballo, Rowland, and O'Neil closed the meet in style with a facility-record 3:49.04. The Eagles also added a fourth-place finish in the 4x800 relay.

In middle-distance action, Ondobo (2^nd – 2;17.11) and Ali Gutierrez (3^rd – 2:18.22) scored key points in the 800 meters, further demonstrating the team's balance.

Londyn Cage contributed across the heptathlon, recording multiple personal-best performances and adding valuable points in the multi-event competition. She ultimately finished second in the event with 3,797 points.

From sprints to distance, hurdles to jumps and throws, Central Methodist's depth proved too much for the rest of the conference. With back-to-back indoor-outdoor sweeps and a growing championship legacy, the Eagles continue to set the standard in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

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