PITTSBURG, Kan. (2/15/20) – Arkansas State track and field wrapped up its final tune-up ahead of the 2020 Sun Belt Indoor Championships on Saturday at the Indoor Gorilla Classic, with 12 Red Wolves posting collegiate-best marks to end another strong weekend.
Seven Red Wolves earned top-five finishes on Saturday, with five placing in the top three of their respective events.
A-State's distance athletes once again shined after helping the Red Wolves to school-record DMR marks, posting seven bests on the day. Bennett Pascoe and Sophie Leathers notched personal-bests in the 3000m, placing second and third, respectively. Pascoe's time of 8:19.98 is good enough to rank second in school history, while Leathers ran 10:00.51 to move into fifth all-time at A-State.
McKenzie Cornell also moved into the top 10 in the mile, running 5:02.79 to place fourth and move up to seventh in school history, while Sammy Brainard placed sixth with a season-best 5:03.49. John Carder (4:21.04) and Coleman Wilson (4:23.21) posted mile bests, while Gregoire Saury placed third overall in the event.
In the sprints, A-State's Osereme Erewele and Jonae Cook advanced to the 60m finals, with Cook running a personal-best 7.63 in the prelims before topping that with a run of 7.60 in the final that was won by A-State alum Caitland Smith, who ran a lifetime-best 7.27. Amari James matched his personal best in the 60m hurdles that was set in his season opener back in December, clocking 8.13 in the prelims.
Johnaya Givens placed fourth in the triple jump with a personal-best mark of 12.16m (39-10.75) that ranks ninth in program history.
Grace Flowers and Evangelynn Harris placed second and third in the shot put, respectively, with Harris tossing a personal-best 15.18m (49-9.75). On the men's side, Eric Williams uncorked a season-best throw of 15.90m (52-2.0).
A-State returns to action Feb. 24-25 for the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships, held at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama. The Red Wolves are looking to continue their recent success at the conference meet, finishing second or better in every track and field or cross country meet in the last six events, most recently claiming a women's title and men's runner-up finish at the 2019 cross country championships.
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.
A-STATE AT THE INDOOR GORILLA CLASSIC (SATURDAY)
WOMEN'S RESULTS (*denotes collegiate best; ^ denotes season best)
60m (Prelims): Aniekeme Etim (William Carey), 7.36
A-State: 7. Osereme Erewele, 7.59q; 8. Jonae Cook, 7.63q*
60m (Final): Caitland Smith, 7.27
A-State: 7. Osereme Erewele, 7.59; 8. Jonae Cook, 7.60*
400m: Cameka Witter (Oklahoma Baptist), 54.67
A-State: 52. Blaique Webster, 1:00.63*
800m: Edna Dar (Missouri State), 2:10.03
A-State: 6. Pauline Meyer, 2:15.00; 20. Kayla Wade, 2:19.75*; 24. Elizabeth Martin, 2:20.36; 31. Emily Efurd, 2:22.51*
Mile: Gracie Hyde (Central Arkansas), 4:54.32
A-State: 4. McKenzie Cornell, 5:02.79* [No. 7 in school history]; 6. Sammy Brainard, 5:03.49^; 15. Elizabeth Gillette, 5:12.80; 17. Sarah Trammel, 5:15.09; 18. Madison Grimm, 5:15.80
3000m: Claire McCune, 9:47.84
A-State: 3. Sophie Leathers, 10:00.51* [No. 5 in school history]; 30. Madison Grimm, 10:43.95
60m Hurdles (Prelims): Sasha Wells (Oral Roberts), 8.31
A-State: 10. Alexis Woodall, 8.92; 14. Rainee Bowers, 9.02
High Jump: Jessica Haney (Missouri State), 1.71m (5-7.25)
A-State: 6. Camryn Newton-Smith, 1.65m (5-5.0); 7. Sydney Lane, 1.65m (5-5.0); 12. Megan Knowling, 1.62m (5-3.75); 13. Allie Hensley, 1.62m (5-3.75)
Pole Vault: Emily Presley (Missouri Southern), 4.22m (13-10.0)
A-State: 7. Callie Hicks, 3.82m (12-6.25)
Triple Jump: Ieva Turke (Nebraska), 13.12m (43-0.5)
A-State: 4. Johnaya Givens, 12.16m (39-10.75)* [No. 9 in school history]; 25. Arabriaun Mack, 11.11m (36-5.5); 28. Megan Knowling, 11.05m (36-3.0)
Shot Put: Ashlan Burton (Central Missouri), 15.64m (51-3.75)
A-State: 2. Grace Flowers, 15.41m (50-6.75); 3. Evangelynn Harris, 15.18m (49-9.75)*; 11. Babette Vandeput, 13.01m (42-8.25); Chastery Fuamatu, FOUL
MEN'S RESULTS (*denotes collegiate best; ^ denotes season best)
60m (Prelims): Caleb Jackson (Butler CC), 6.71
A-State: 21. Chris Hill, 6.95
400m: Taysean Goodwin (Emporia State), 46.65
A-State: 19. Kobey Hill, 48.59*; Daidren Davis, DNF
800m: Alex Staples (Missouri S&T), 1:52.59
A-State: 26. Alejandro Vargas, 1:57.10; Darrian Lockett, DNF
Mile: Connar Southard (Pittsburg State), 4:10.90
A-State: 3. Gregoire Saury, 4:12.91; 10. Seth Waters, 4:16.44; 21. John Carder, 4:21.04*; 28. Coleman Wilson, 4:23.21*; 38. Garrett Becker, 4:25.51
3000m: Gidieon Kimutai (Missouri Southern), 8:16.70
A-State: 2. Bennett Pascoe, 8:19.98* [No. 2 in school history]; 11. Ethan Mychajlonka, 8:40.58; 33. John Carder, 8:53.01; 50. Coleman Wilson, 9:07.95
60m Hurdles (Prelims): Luke Siedhoff (Nebraska), 7.97Q
A-State: 9. Amari James, 8.13 [Ties PR]; 11. Ke'Von Holder, 8.26; 19. Hayden Hampton, 8.49
Pole Vault: Jan Jansky (Central Missouri), 5.25m (17-2.75)
A-State: Matthew Keown, NH
Triple Jump: Malik Crandle (William Carey), 15.60m (51-2.25)
A-State: Carter Shell, FOUL
Shot Put: Rajindra Campbell (Missouri Southern), 18.99m (62-3.75)
A-State: 12. Eric Williams, 15.90m (52-2.0)^; 14. Eron Carter, 15.53m (50-11.5)
