Members of the track and field teams traveled to Angelo State University from Thursday, April 4 to Saturday, April 6 and to Southwest Baptist (SBU) Saturday, April 6.
At the Southwest Baptist meet sophomore Connor Southard and sophomore Colin Webber finished first and second in the 1500 meters. Senior Katren Reinbolt won the steeplechase with a personal best time and the fourth-best time in school history. Junior Piper Misse placed third overall in the 1500 meters and sophomore Sara Kernodle finished second in the 3000 meters.
Head coach Russ Jewett believes the team did well at the Southwest Baptist meet and several players stood out to him.
“Well the Southwest Baptist meet it was a little good, a little bad, a little ugly,” Jewett said. “I would highlight probably Colin Webber had a nice big hundred. It got him on the national list, it is a time that wouldn’t get him into nationals, but he is a provisional qualifier. I was pleased with the 1500-meter race that Connor Southard ran and the way he ran it. He won that (event) and did it in a convincing fashion with a nice kick. And then also I guess I would highlight Katren Reinbolt who won the steeplechase in a lifetime best. A whole lot of stiff competition there, to run that fast that is harder to do so I am proud of her.”
At the Angelo State meet sophomore Haven Lander had a school record performance in the pole vault and passed her own school mark. Redshirt freshman Trace Mosby won the heptathlon with a personal best total and a second-best mark in school history in the hammer throw with 5.270 points which is currently the top mark in Division II. Redshirt senior Courtney Nelson won the 100-meter hurdles. Freshman Catherine Simpkins won third place with a personal best in the pole vault. Junior Hanna Fergason placed third in the long jump and senior Jena Black finished fourth overall in the shot put and in the hammer throw. On the men’s side, redshirt junior Levi Wyrick placed second with a personal best throw and a second-best total in school history in the hammer throw. Senior Justice Burks finished second in the 110-meter hurdles. Junior Joshua Hudiburg finished second overall in the javelin. Redshirt freshman Konner Swenson placed third in the hammer throw. Senior Kai Miller placed third in the pole vault. Senior Ian Duncan finished third in the high jump. Redshirt freshman Jerod Toogood made a personal best mark in the javelin.
“The Texas meet I would say similarly about it,” Jewett said. “We have a few really good things happen (and) a few not great competitive efforts, I guess. The weather was very, very warm… I would say the highlight might be the women’s 4×400 meter relay. We won that event and got a pretty solid qualifying time. I think the rank is fourth in the country with that time right now. I would say Courtney Nelson had a good race in the hundred hurdles considering she had to run against the wind. You hardly ever run against the wind but there was a little bit of headwind there and she still ran really fast and so that gave her a time that will get her into the national championship. There were some throwers that did really well. Levi Wyrick had a lifetime best in the hammer throw… and definitely got him into nationals. We had a big weekend by Konner Swenson who in the hammer had a lifetime best by like over ten feet. He is really coming around. There were some other nice performances but those are probably the highlights.”
The 4×400 meter relay teams that competed at SBU stood out to Jewett as well.
“… We had two 4×400 meter relay teams (at SBU),” Jewett said. “…They were not really fast teams but… I think we just ended really well. We had some folks that probably as individuals will not score at the conference level… but they ran really well on that relay and it was inspirational, and it is really cool to see that.”
The next meet is the 11th Annual David Suenram Gorilla Classic Saturday, April 13 here in Pittsburg.
“Well we host the meet this weekend,” Jewett said. “…Bring your raincoat and your umbrella… There will be some conference schools there. We are looking to have the whole team together. In our sport, we split people up to find the best competition for each event group. But this time obviously we are all together at home and so we are going to be a complete team. We are just looking for better seeding performances for conference… and coming together and performing more as a team than we have yet.”