What: SWAC Indoor Track & Field Championships 
When: February 16-17
Where: Birmingham CrossPlex, Birmingham, Ala.
 
The Florida A&M track and field program is off to Birmingham, Ala., for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, where the reigning indoor and outdoor pole vault champion, Kiara Ivy, will look to defend her title. Action begins at 8:30 a.m. CT/9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 16.
 
Friday's events will be live-streamed on the SWAC Digital Network starting at 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET.
 
The Last Outing
Samuel Gardner, Zoe Hightower and Mia Heard were recognized as SWAC Athletes of the Week, as announced February 9, for their stellar performances at the Celebration Pointe Indoor Classic. The Rattlers concluded the event with 23 total medalist honors. 

• Heard swept the long jump (5.67m / 18' 7¼") and triple jump (11.16m / 36' 7½") events, the former also surpassed a facility record 
• Gardner broke a facility record in the 60-meter dash with a second-place finish (7.01)
• Hightower clocked in at third in the 400-meter race (58.17) and was also a part of a second-place 4x400 relay (3:48.84)
• After action in the Celebration Pointe Classic and Alachua County Collegiate Invitational,  Ivy (pole vault), Denae Hill (shot put), and Forrest Booker (triple jump) are working back-to-back first-place finishes in their respective events. 

Some of the Best in the SWAC
Several of the Rattlers' 2023 performances rank 'Top 5' on the Southwestern Athletic Conference's indoor performance list: 
 
Lauryn Hall | 60m | 7.63 | Fifth
Lauryn Hall | 200m | 24.60 | Third 
Teleda Williams | 200m | 24.90 | Fifth
Teleada Williams | 400m | 56.48 | Fifth
Lacie Deboskie | 800m | 2:17.45 | Third
Serenity Williams | 3000m | 11:13.85 | Fourth
Zoe Hightower, Destini Pickens, Serenity Williams, Lacie Deboskie | 4x400 | 3:48.94 | First
Pache' Caldwell | High Jump | 2.10m (6' 10.75") | Third
Kiara Ivy | Pole Vault | 3.70m (12' 1.5") | First 
Dajon Clark | Long Jump | 7.52m (24' 8.25") | First
Jordyn Ash | Long Jump | 5.67m (18' 7.25") | T-Fourth
Mia Heard | Long Jump | 5.67m (18' 7.25") | T-Fourth 
 
It is also worth noting that Caldwell and Clark's efforts respectively tie for 55th and 57th on the NCAA Division I indoor qualifying list. The championship meet is scheduled for March 10-11 in Albuquerque, N.M.