Ismaila Sawaneh’s Pole Vault Title Headlines Final Day Of SEC Indoor Championships

Ismaila Sawaneh - 2026 SEC Indoor Championships

Ismaila Sawaneh’s Pole Vault Title Headlines Final Day Of SEC Indoor Championships

February 28, 2026 | Track & Field

BRYAN–COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Tennessee track & field newcomer Ismaila Sawaneh earned a conference title in the men's pole vault on Saturday as the Vols and Lady Vols wrapped up competition at the 2026 SEC Indoor Championships. UT totaled four medal-winning performances during Saturday's action inside the R.A. "Murray" Fasken Indoor Track & Field Facility at Texas A&M.

Sawaneh vaulted a lifetime-best 5.78 meters (18-11.5) to claim the win for Tennessee, moving up to No. 20 in collegiate indoor history and solidifying his position at third on Tennessee's all-time indoor list. The French international became UT's second consecutive SEC champion in the men's pole vault after teammate Blake Sifferlin won the title in 2025.

The Vols finished 1-2 in the pole vault thanks to Cade Gray's career-best clearance of 5.73 meters (18-9.5), which earned his second career SEC silver medal. The Ocala, Florida, native now ranks fourth in the NCAA this season and fourth on UT's all-time list indoors.

Tennessee totaled 23.5 points in the men's pole vault, adding a tie for fifth place from Evan Puckett (5.46m / 17-11) and a seventh-place finish from Sifferlin (5.46m / 17-11). The group helped UT accumulate 51.7 total points for the weekend, finishing sixth overall in the final team standings.

On the women's side, the Lady Vols collected a pair of bronze medals in the mile and 60-meter hurdles. Freshman standout Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka placed third in her SEC mile debut with a personal-best time of 4:33.60, ranking second in school history and securing UT's first conference medal in th event since 2010. Lady Vol graduate Myreanna Bebe earned her second career SEC medal in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing third in Saturday's final with a time of 8.02.

Tennessee placed ninth in the women's team standings with 34 points.

SCORING PERFORMANCES: Including its four podium finishes, the Big Orange logged 17 top-eight scoring marks on Saturday at the SEC Indoor Championships.

Traunard Folson – Men's 60m – 6.62 (7th)
Gavin Genisio – Men's Mile – 4:05.10 (8th)
Zouhair Redouane – Men's 3,000m – 7:49.12 (4th)
Ethan Edgeworth – Men's 3,000m – 7:51.24 (5th)
Ismaila Sawaneh – Men's Pole Vault – 5.78m / 18-11.5 (1st)
Cade Gray – Men's Pole Vault – 5.73m / 18-9.5 (2nd)
Evan Puckett – Men's Pole Vault – 5.46m / 17-11 (t-5th)
Blake Sifferlin – Men's Pole Vault – 5.46m / 17-11 (7th)
Grant Campbell – Men's High Jump – 2.14m / 7-0.25 (t-6th)
JL Van Rensburg – Men's Shot Put – 19.47m / 63-10.5 (4th)
John Bruder – Men's Shot Put – 19.00m / 62-4 (6th)
Javonya Valcourt – Women's 400m – 51.74 (6th)
Ka'Myya Haywood – Women's 800m – 2:05.74 (6th)
Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka – Women's Mile – 4:33.60 (3rd)
Myreanna Bebe – Women's 60m Hurdles – 8.02 (3rd)
Valcourt, Wright, Haywood, Joseph – Women's 4x400m Relay – 3:30.12 (4th)
Endia Smith – Women's Triple Jump – 13.16m / 43-2.25 (5th)

UP NEXT: Tennessee athletes that post top-16 NCAA qualifying marks will travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the 2026 NCAA Indoor National Championships. The nation's top athletes will converge upon the Randal Tyson Track Center on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14.