BOLIVAR, Mo. -- John Brown University track and field athletes posted strong performances, including two program records and eight top-10 finishes, at the Southwest Baptist (Mo.) Bearcat Invitational this weekend (March 28-29) at Plaster Stadium.
Senior Andrew Morton led the Golden Eagles sprinters with a third-place finish in the 100 meters, clocking 10.61 seconds, the second-fastest time in program history. Morton also recorded a time of 51.32 in the 400 meters, placing 11th overall and posting the sixth-best mark in program history.
Sophomore Chase Stone posted solid performances in both sprint events, running 11.16 in the 100 meters and 22.87 in the 200 meters, where he placed 13th overall. Sophomore Emma Morton represented the women's sprinters, running 27.85 in the 200 meters and 1:03.16 in the 400 meters, where she placed 14th overall.
Junior Matthew Cook led the JBU middle distance squad with a sixth-place finish in the 800 meters, recording a time of 1:57.30. Senior Drew Janzen followed close behind, placing 10th with a time of 1:58.97, while sophomore Henry Zedler recorded a time of 2:04.45.
In the women's middle distance events, freshman Hannah Foster competed in the 800 meters, recording a time of 2:42.35. The 1,500 meters saw several Golden Eagles in action, led by senior Mikey Duncan who placed 12th with a time of 5:16.29. Freshman Tori Calder followed with 5:20.96, while junior Emma Morton ran 5:25.34. Freshmen Paige Andrews and Adelyn Janssen completed the event in 5:33.39 and 6:02.17, respectively.
The distance events saw strong performances from both the men's and women's squads. In the men's 5,000 meters, sophomore Zach Briscoe placed sixth with a time of 16:10.86. Freshman Sam Burkett added another top-five finish for the Golden Eagles, completing the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:05.16 for fifth place.
Junior Hope Ahnfeldt led the women's distance runners in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18:42.11, followed by senior Emma Brown (19:51.32), freshman Paige Andrews (20:06.57), freshman Anna Claire Orr (21:01.23), and senior Olivia Scates (21:27.23).
Junior Naia Shepherd delivered a strong performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing sixth overall in 14:28.06, the sixth-fastest time in program history.
Freshman Benjamin Coker showed continued improvement in the jumps, clearing 1.84 meters in the high jump, which tied for the second-best mark in program history, and recording 6.79 meters in the long jump for a seventh-place finish.
Freshman Noah Osterloh made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, setting a new program record in the triple jump with a mark of 13.57 meters and placing ninth overall.
In the women's jumps, senior Grace Mitchell cleared 3.05 meters in the pole vault, tying her own mark for the second-best height in program history.
Senior Evie Scoles led the women's throws squad with multiple strong performances. Scoles placed fifth in the shot put with a mark of 12.46 meters, the sixth-best in program history. She also recorded throws of 31.20 meters in the discus and 37.31 meters in the hammer, the latter standing as the second-best mark in program history.
Junior Nikki Basye set a new program record in the javelin with a throw of 28.60 meters.
The Golden Eagles will return to competition next weekend at the Pittsburg State (Kan.) Suenram Gorilla Classic on April 5 inside Plaster Stadium.
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