Marshall UniversityƵs Kylee Mastin has been crowned the 2025 Sun Belt Conference WomenƵs track athlete of the year.
Mastin solidified herself as one of the Thundering HerdƵs all-time greatest athletes in any sport during the 2025 Sun Belt Indoor Championships, winning the mile, 3K and anchoring a winning distance medley relay. With three golds, Mastin became the most decorated athlete in program history, with six total gold medals. She finished her career with indoor school records in the 800, 1K, mile, 3K and DMR. She also holds the outdoor records in the 800 and 1.500.
ƵKylee is one of the most dedicated student-athletes I have worked with, and it has been a pleasure seeing her reach the highest level of success,Ƶ Marshall director of track & field Keith Roberts said. ƵKyleeƵs work ethic in training and grit in competition is unmatched. She understands competitive greatness and bringing your best when your best is needed.
ƵKylee has rewritten the record books at Marshall and her accomplishments will leave a lasting impression on the program. She is very deserving of this honor, and we are very proud of all that she has done for the Herd.Ƶ
Mastin was also named first-team All-SBC alongside DMR teammates Brynn McKeever, McKenna Woodruff and Hannah Wyler.
ƵItƵs been awesome having the opportunity to work with Kylee Mastin,Ƶ Marshall cross country coach Caleb Bowen said. ƵSheƵs the epitome of everything you want in an athlete. Dedicated to the extreme, hardest worker, and gutsy when itƵs crunch time. IƵve never met a more tactical mind. IƵm blessed to have worked with her and am excited to see what challenges she crushes next.Ƶ
Kazuma Bowring and Addison Painter were named second-team all-conference for silver medals in the 800 and long jump respectively. Lara Check and Rebecca Merritt earned third-team honors for third-place finishes.
BASEBALL SWEEPS FDU: Marshall (5-6) closed its weekend slate with Fairleigh Dickinson (0-10) on Sunday with a 5-4 win at Jack Cook Field.
ƵItƵs great to get a sweep at home,Ƶ Marshall coach Greg Beals on Sunday. ƵOffensively, I thought we hit some balls hard early. We didnƵt get much production from those quality at bats, but there late in the game we got some big at bats when we needed to. Eddie LeonƵs double was huge. To see Ethan Murdoch score from first base to see his speed play out was fun to watch. Then Tyler Kamerer with the sacrifice fly, which was the go ahead run, with a huge two-strike at bat there (in the eighth).Ƶ
Leon had three RBIs while AJ Havrilla and Kamerer secured multi-hit appearances. Murdoch added a double and three walks.
Tim Baird threw two innings for his second win, allowing one run, three walks and a hit. Nicholas Weyrich notched his third save with a shutout ninth frame.
Havrilla and Leon picked up early RBIs for a 2-0 Marshall lead through two innings.
FDU rallied in the middle innings, scoring a run on a fielderƵs choice before three consecutive RBI singles gave the Knights a 4-2 lead entering the seventh.
Marshall responded. Leon doubled for two RBIs to tie the game before a sacrifice from Kamerer gave Marshall a 5-4 advantage entering the top of the ninth.
From there, Weyrich sealed it by escaping a bases-loaded jam.
Marshall entertains Ohio at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Marshall baseball also announced that Herd football coach Tony Gibson will throw the first pitch on April 5 before the football spring game on April 12.
SOFTBALL FACES NINTH P4 OPPONENT: Marshall (6-11) closed its weekend with a loss to Kansas (10-7) Sunday in Norman, Oklahoma.
Marshall fell in the eighth inning as the winning run beat a throw home with runners on the corners.
The Herd closed a week of tough opponents as it played Kansas twice along with the No.1-ranked, four-time defending national champion, Oklahoma Sooners.
ƵThis team has faced nine Power-4 opponents and has a 6-2 record against the others,Ƶ MU coach Morgan Zerkle said. ƵI am proud of them for not backing down from anyone. After 17 challenging games on the road, I hope every Herd fan out there shows up for some Dot Magic next weekend. This team is a lot of fun to watch compete.Ƶ
Kansas struck first in the game with a solo home run in the second before Marshall took the lead in the third. Hoskins reached on an error that allowed Diamond Leslie and Brooklyn Ulrich to score.
The Jayhawks sent another ball over the fence in the third to retake the lead, but Marshall responded with a game-tying homer by Rielly Lucas, her second of the year.
Paige Maynard entered in relief and threw three innings, allowing one unearned run to end the game.
Freshman Leslie finished a phenomenal week, tallying seven hits and hitting her first collegiate home run against Missouri-Kansas City in SaturdayƵs 9-1 win.
The Herd has its home opener this weekend, playing host to Loyola-Chicago, Buffalo and Valparaiso for the Marshall March Madness round robin tournament, beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday.
Tyler Kennett is a sports writer for The Herald-Dispatch. Reach him at tkennett@hdmediallc.com. Follow @tylerkennett on X.
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