FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The John Brown University track and field team split its squad over the weekend, competing at both the University of Arkansas Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville and the Pittsburg State (Kan.) Russ Jewett Indoor Gorilla Classic this past weekend (Feb. 14-15).
The Golden Eagles delivered multiple program-best performances, highlighted by a new program record in the women's 800 meters.
Athletes competing at the Tyson Invitational, held at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, took advantage of the fast, banked 200-meter track, posting historic middle-distance performances.
Senior Anna Keys set a new program record in the women's 800 meters, finishing in 2:21.09 to beat the previous program best by over two seconds. She was followed closely by senior Mikey Duncan, who ran a personal-best 2:22.35, moving to No. 2 all-time in program history. Junior Emma Morton also recorded a personal record in the event, clocking 2:23.36, now ranking as the third-fastest in program history.
In the women's 3,000 meters, junior Emma Brown shattered her personal record, crossing the line in 11:17.95, securing the third-fastest time in program history.
On the men's side, junior Matthew Cook finished 37th in the 800 meters with a time of 1:55.38, just off his personal best and the second-fastest mark in program history. Senior Drew Janzen ran a personal-best 1:56.00, moving to No. 3 all-time in program history.
At the Russ Jewett Indoor Gorilla Classic, senior Andrew Morton competed in the 60 meters, placing 34th in 6.97 seconds. In the field events, senior Evie Scoles threw 11.64 meters (38 feet, 2.25 inches) in the women's shot put, placing 27th.
As the indoor season closes, the Golden Eagles capped off a historic stretch, rewriting the program record books in nine different events.
Morton reset his own school record in the men's 60 meters, clocking 6.91 seconds on three separate occasions, and later established a new mark in the 200 meters (22.22) at the Pittsburg State (Kan.) NAIA/JuCo Challenge. Freshman Eli Leach set the 300-meter program record (39.51) at the Pittsburg State (Kan.) Crimson & Gold Invitational, while Cook ran the fastest 800 meters in program history (1:54.90) at the Arkansas Invitational.
On the women's side, Morton set a new 400-meter program record (1:01.95) at the Northwest Missouri State Bearcat Invite, and Keys established a new 800-meter record (2:21.1) at the Arkansas Tyson Invitational. In the field events, freshman Noah Osterloh recorded a triple jump mark of 13.08 meters, while freshman Ben Coker cleared 1.80 meters in the high jump, both at the Crimson & Gold Invitational. Senior Grace Mitchell rounded out the record-setting performances, clearing 3.05 meters in the pole vault at the Pittsburg State (Kan.) NAIA/JuCo Challenge.
With these historic performances and a strong close to the indoor season, the Blue and Gold turns its attention to the outdoor campaign, which begins on March 21 at the St. Mary (Kan.) Spire Distance Carnival, held at the Charles Berkel Memorial Stadium in Leavenworth, Kan.
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