Geneva, OH - On the second day of the NCAA Division lll Outdoor Track and Field Championship, Southern Virginia University athletes stood out in their respective events. Hosted on the campus of the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio, it's the fourth consecutive season that the Knights have qualified athletes for the outdoor national championship meet.

Heidi Barton represented the Knights in the women's 800m, finishing off a historic senior campaign with a top 20 finish in the country. She owns the top five times for the Knights in the event and is one of the most decorated athletes in program history. Marin Simons tied for eighth overall in the women's high jump, becoming the first woman to achieve All-American status in program history.

The high jump was the first contested final of the day. Unfazed by the big stage, freshman Marin Simons was one of eleven athletes to clear the opening height of 1.60 meters (5' 3) on her first attempt. The next height of 1.65 meters (5' 5") also provided no issues, and she remained perfect on the day with another clearance on her first attempt. After two jumps, Simons was tied for third and looking to become the first Knight in women's team history to claim an All-American spot with a top 8 finish.

With only 14 athletes remaining, the perfect day nearly continued at 1.68m (5' 6"), but Simons grazed the bar just enough to send it to the ground. She was unsuccessful on her next two attempts, but because of the success of her first two clearances, Simons had done enough to secure eighth place, establishing herself as an NCAA All-American.

2025 serves as another historic year for Head Coach Kyle Chandler and the Southern Virginia University track and field team. Already a perennial threat at the conference and regional levels, the team continues to make strides towards being a competitive team at the national championship meet.

For the most up-to-date information and details on the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knightxctf on Instagram.