Two members of the Murray State track team train at the Marshall Gage Track earlier this semester.
For the first time this season, the track and field team had a home-field advantage April 4 and Saturday, hosting the Margaret Simmons Invitational at the Marshall Gage Track.
Sophomore Hannah McAllister took advantage of the chance to compete in her hometown, posting one of her best days of the season. The Murray native set a personal record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.01 seconds – good for a second place finish.
McAllister also took the top spot in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.14 seconds.
Freshman Victoria Yocum shared McAllister’s success in the sprints. The Bardstown, Ky., native joined McAllister at the top of the 100-meter rankings, taking a second-place finish with a personal best time of 12.39.
Yocum also placed third in the 200-meter while freshman Morgan McNeely took sixth to round out a trio of Racers in the top six spots in the event.
Murray State also succeeded in the mid-distance events, with junior Brittany Bohn and sophomores Emma Gilmore and Leah Krause sweeping the top three spots in the 1,500-meter.
Bohn’s time of 4:47.04 was a personal record, and Gilmore and Krause posted their best times of the season in the event.
In the field, junior Tonia Pratt continued her record-breaking season with a pair of second-place finishes. Pratt’s throw of 42.36 meters in the discus was her best mark of the season. Additionally, Pratt broke a stadium record in the hammer throw with a toss of 54.86 meters.
Junior Sydney Potts and sophomore Kiara Austin continued Murray State’s success in the field events with a pair of first-place finishes. Potts won the javelin throw with a mark of 32.46 meters. Austin took first in the triple jump and third in the long jump.
Senior Katie Forshey rounded out the Racer winners with a first place finish in the high jump, clearing a height of 5 feet, 2 inches.
The Racers continue their outdoor season today and Saturday as they make the short trip to Bowling Green, Ky., for the Hilltopper Relays at Western Kentucky.
Staff Report