PITTSBURG, Kan. (12/8/19) – While a few athletes officially opened the 2019-20 indoor track and field season for Arkansas State on Friday, the rest of the squad put together a strong opening meet on Saturday at the Crimson and Gold Invitational.
A total of 22 collegiate bests were broken by 18 different athletes on the day. A-State athletes totaled 17 top-three finishes with six victories, five on the women's side.
Grace Flowers led the way, winning both the shot put and weight throw with collegiate-best marks that moved her into the program's top five in both events. Her stellar season opener began in the shot put, where she won by nearly 80cm, hurling the implement 15.53m (50-11.5) to move into second all-time at A-State. The 2019 Sun Belt Outdoor discus champion returned to the ring later in the day to win the weight throw with a mark of 18.39m (60-4.0) that ranks fourth in school history.
Evangelynn Harris and Babette Vandeput also earned top-five finishes in the shot put, finishing second and fourth, respectively. In the weight throw, Chastery Fuamatu placed fourth with a throw of 17.68m (58-0.25) that ranks fifth in program history.
In the women's pole vault, a duo made strong A-State debuts with top-five finishes, with a returnee also placing inside the top five. Callie Hicks claimed second place with a collegiate-best clearance of 3.91m (12-10.0) that also moved her up to sixth in program history. Lauren Beauchamp placed fourth with a mark of 3.61m (11-10.0). Nada Buntic tied for fifth overall, clearing 3.61m (11-10.0).
Ozzy Erewele earned her first win of the campaign in the 60m, clocking a personal-best 7.51. Jonae Cook ran 7.66 to finish third while newcomer Jaela Hollie placed seventh with a mark of 7.71. Also on the straightaway, freshman Rainee Bowers clocked an impressive first collegiate mark in the 60m hurdles, running 8.84 to place second and lead three Red Wolves in the top 10. Freshman Alexis Woodall (9.06) and Imani Udoumana (9.10) placed seventh and eighth, with Udoumana breaking her previous personal best.
In the men's 60m hurdles, Ke'von Holder posted a meet-record and personal-best 7.90 to win the event and tie for second-fastest in program history, with Amari James clocking a lifetime best 8.13 to place third.
Later in the day, Erewele once again claimed a victory, winning the 200m in 24.75. Jonae Cook placed second with a personal-best 24.88 that moved into 10th all-time in school history in the event.
In the men's 200m, Jermie Walker finished as the top collegian, placing third overall with a personal-best 21.41 that ranks second in program history. Chris Hill also posted a PR in the race, running 21.92.
In the women's triple jump, the reigning SBC outdoor champion Udoumana posted a collegiate-best mark of 12.31m (40-4.75) that moved her up to sixth in program history. Arabriaun Mack also posted a personal best, leaping 11.68m (38-4.0) to place fourth.
Three Red Wolves earned collegiate bests in the women's high jump, led by Sydney Lane's 1.71m (5-7.25) to finish second overall. Megan Knowling cleared 1.62m (5-3.75) while Canaan Richardson jumped 1.46m (4-9.5).
Kobey Hill posted a strong open to his season, finishing second in the 400m with a time of 48.64. Daidren Davis clocked a collegiate-best 49.42 to place ninth in the event.
A-State then closed out the day with a blistering 4x400m relay, with the men placing second with a time of 3:13.53, which is third-fastest in school history.
For the latest on the A-State track and field program, follow @AStateTrack on Twitter and @Arkansas_State_Track on Instagram, while also liking the team's Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateTrackAndField.
WOMEN'S RESULTS (*denotes collegiate best)
60m: 1. Ozzy Erewele, 7.51*; 3. Jonae Cook, 7.66; 7. Jaela Hollie, 7.71; 8. Kerra Williams, 7.73; 27. Alexis Woodall, 8.05
200m: 1. Ozzy Erewele, 24.75; 2. Jonae Cook, 24.88* (No. 10 in school history); 12. Kyndall Hudson, 25.79; 21. Jaela Hollie, 26.33
400m: Cameka Witter (Oklahoma Baptist), 55.23
A-State: 6. Kyndall Hudson, 59.17; 16. Kori Jones, 1:03.23
Mile: Elysia Burgos (Southwest Baptist), 4:47.38
A-State: 13. Heidi Hauptman, 5:25.57*; 16. Emily Efurd, 5:34.57; 25. Eva Wilk, 5:55.34
60m Hurdles: Madison Thetford (West Texas A&M), 8.73
A-State: 2. Rainee Bowers, 8.84; 7. Alexis Woodall, 9.06; 8. Imani Udoumana, 9.10*; 13. Kerra Williams, 9.26; 20. Brianna De La Rosa, 9.49; 23. Kori Jones, 9.66
4x400m Relay: Oklahoma Baptist, 3:50.31
A-State: 11. 4:07.50
High Jump: Meleah Ridenour (Southwest Baptist), 1.71m (5-7.25)
A-State: 2. Sydney Lane, 1.71m (5-7.25)*; 10. Megan Knowling, 1.62m (5-3.75)*; T14. Canaan Richardson, 1.46m (4-9.5)*
Pole Vault: Haven Lander (Pittsburg State), 4.11m (13-5.75)
A-State: 2. Callie Hicks, 3.91m (12-10.0)* [No. 6 in school history]; 4. Lauren Beauchamp, 3.61m (11-10.0); T5. Nada Buntic, 3.61m (11-10.0); 22. Jordan Miles, 3.09m (10-0.5)
Long Jump: Carsyn Spurgeon (Tulsa), 6.08m (19-11.5)
A-State: 8. Ozzy Erewele, 5.39m (17-8.25); 11. Jaela Hollie, 5.33m (17-6.0); 12. Arabriaun Mack, 5.31m (17-5.25); 16. Johnaya Givens, 5.25m (17-2.75)
Triple Jump: 1. Imani Udoumana, 12.31m (40-4.75)* [No. 6 in school history]; 4. Arabriaun Mack, 11.68m (38-4.0); 5. Johnaya Givens, 11.66m (38-3.25); 10. Megan Knowling, 11.25m (36-11.0)
Shot Put: 1. Grace Flowers, 15.53m (50-11.5)* [No. 2 in program history]; 2. Evangelynn Harris, 14.79m (48-6.25); 4. Babette Vandeput, 13.30m (43-7.75); 7. Chastery Fuamatu, 12.87m (42-2.75)
Weight Throw: 1. Grace Flowers, 18.39m (60-4.0)* [No. 4 in school history]; 4. Chastery Fuamatu, 17.68m (58-0.25)* [No. 5 in school history]; 15. Hannah Higgins, 14.57m (47-9.75); 18. Evangelynn Harris, 14.37m (47-1.75)
MEN'S RESULTS (*denotes collegiate best)
60m: Mark Doyley, 6.74
A-State: 8. Chris Hill, 6.85*; 10. Jermie Walker, 6.87*; 12. Courtney Thomas, 6.88*
200m: Don'drea Swint, 21.18
A-State: 3. Jermie Walker, 21.41* (No. 2 in school history); 13. Chris Hill, 21.92*; 14. Kobey Hill, 21.93
400m: Johnathan Sawyer (Southeastern Louisiana), 47.41
A-State: 2. Kobey Hill, 48.64; 9. Daidren Davis, 49.42*; 25. Darrian Lockett, 51.05; 31. K'Den Johnson, 51.78
800m: Tarees Rhoden (Oklahoma Baptist), 1:52.42
A-State: 11. Handre Jonker, 1:58.08; 32. Alejandro Vargas, 2:08.44
Mile: Arnaud Taki (West Texas A&M), 4:14.85
A-State: 7. Garrett Becker, 4:24.83*; 28. Sean Adams, 4:41.68; 31. Alejandro Vargas, 4:45.26
60m Hurdles: 1. Ke'von Holder, 7.90* (T2nd in school history); 3. Amari James, 8.13*; 12. Daidren Davis, 8.64
4x400m Relay: Southeastern Louisiana, 3:10.24
A-State: 2. 3:13.53 (No. 3 in school history)
High Jump: Ian Duncan, 2.10m (6-10.75)
A-State: T8. Frank Massey, 1.90m (6-2.75)
Pole Vault: Michael Carr, 5.13m (16-10.0)
A-State: 11. Matthew Keown, 4.58m (15-0.25)
Long Jump: Dhanushka Sandaruwan (West Texas A&M), 7.33m (24-0.75)
A-State: 2. Coleton Clifft, 7.19m (23-7.25)*; 5. Courtney Thomas, 7.09m (23-3.25)
Triple Jump: Tahje Tolliver (Southwest Baptist), 14.98m (49-1.75)
A-State: 10. Courtney Thomas, 13.85m (45-5.25)
Shot Put: Konnor Swenson (Pittsburg State), 18.03m (59-2.0)
A-State: 8. Eron Carter, 14.77m (48-5.5)
Weight Throw: Levi Wyrick (Pittsburg State), 19.05m (62-6.0)
A-State: 5. Eron Carter, 18.55m (60-10.5)*
