East Carolina’s Kelly Ufodiama Dominates American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – East Carolina track & field showcased a strong performance at the American Conference Indoor Championships, securing eight All-Conference finishes. Sophomore sprinter Kelly Ufodiama led the charge, earning Most Valuable Performer honors for the third consecutive conference meet – both indoor and outdoor. Ufodiama remains undefeated in individual events at American Conference Championships, successfully defending her titles in the 60m and 200m with times of 7.30 and 23.14 seconds, respectively.

Ufodiama’s Historic Performance

During the prelims of the 200m, Ufodiama set a latest meet record with a time of 22.89 seconds, also marking a personal best for the indoor season. She now holds six conference titles, tying Tynita Butts and Aiesha Goggins for the most in East Carolina women’s program history, who each won six Conference USA crowns. Ufodiama is the first female athlete to repeat as MVP since the American Athletic Conference began awarding the honor in 2018.

Ufodiama also contributed to the women’s 4x400m relay team, which finished fourth in a time of 3:40.91, adding five points to the team’s total.

Additional All-Conference Honorees

Brianna Clayton also earned All-Conference recognition in the women’s 200m, finishing second to Ufodiama with a time of 23.75 seconds. Faith Spencer continued her success from the previous season, winning the women’s triple jump with a leap of 12.85m (42-2), besting second place by three centimeters.

Kailey Elliott nearly defended her title in the women’s 60m hurdles, finishing second overall with a time of 8.29 seconds. On the men’s side, Rashun Fountain secured his first podium finish, taking second place in the 200m with a time of 20.93 seconds – a time that ranks third in program history behind LaShawn Merritt and Royal Burris.

Abrielle Schweizer rounded out the ECU All-Conference honorees with a third-place finish in the mile, clocking in at 4:50.75. Alex Sawyer, on the men’s side, achieved a personal record in the mile with a time of 4:05.10, though it wasn’t enough for a podium finish, as a meet record was required to place.

Team Standings

Men’s Team Scores

• South Florida – 134.5
• Wichita State – 132
• Charlotte – 104
• Tulsa – 93
• North Texas – 66.5
• Rice – 46
• UTSA – 41
• East Carolina – 26
• Memphis – 20

Women’s Team Scores

• North Texas – 90
• Charlotte – 82
• Rice – 77
• East Carolina – 69
• Tulane – 63
• UTSA – 59
• Wichita State – 56
• Tulsa – 51
• South Florida – 50
• Memphis – 26
• Temple – 25
• Florida Atlantic – 11
• UAB – 3

Conference Award Winners

• Most Valuable Performer: Kelly Ufodiama, East Carolina (women); Josh Parrish, Wichita State (men)
• Freshman of the Year: Lilah Versluis, South Florida (women); Alesandro Cardoso-Williams, South Florida (men)
• Staff of the Year: Doug Marshall, North Texas (women); Erik Jenkins, South Florida (men)