BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Three program records fell and junior Jean-Benoit Merte captured an NAIA B Standard in the 3,000 meter steeplechase as the John Brown University track and field program opened its outdoor season at the Southwest Baptist (Mo.) Invitational on March 29-30.
Merte will most likely return to Marion, Ind., when he qualified for last year's edition of the NAIA National Championships, after posting a program-record and event-winning time of 9:25.73 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase to win the event, edging out Southwest Baptist's Gavin Duchscherer by just over a second. Merte had the previous program record of 9:30.47, which also earned him a B Standard an a place in the 2023 national field.
Sophomore Chase Schermer also scored in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in his first attempt at the event, finishing third in the field of 10 with a mark of 9:31.26, just missing the B Standard by 1.26 seconds.
Fresh off her All-America finish in indoor season, freshman Cera Eckenroth won the women's 1,500 meters by nearly four seconds, clocking in at 4:41.72 – missing the B Standard expectation by 1.72 seconds in her first outdoor attempt, setting a new program record. The already two-time NAIA All-American bested Central Missouri's Katie Bean and Missouri State's Ella Cronhardt to claim the podium's top spot.
Junior Evie Scoles continued to etch her name all over the program's throwing record book as she claimed third in the shot put with a 12.66 meter throw on her second heave of the day. Beyond setting a new program record, Scoles earned her first podium finish of the outdoor season.
Pittsburg State (Kan.) captured both team titles on the weekend, with the Golden Eagles women finishing ninth (24 points) of 16 teams and the men landing 10th (24 points) of 15 teams.
John Brown returns to action on Saturday (April 6), when the Golden Eagles participate in the Pittsburg State Suenram Gorilla Classic at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kan.
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