Story by Matt Jackson
Contributing writer
mjackson44@murraystate.edu
Murray State track and field was flying from place to place around the country this weekend, participating in competitions in San Marcos, Texas, Austin, Texas, and Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
With the Racers in three different locations, it can be difficult to make sure everyone is on the same page but Head Coach Adam Kisler says it’s not as difficult as it may seem.
“It sounds daunting but it’s really pretty close,” Kiesler said. “Texas State is only about a thirty-minute drive from [Austin], so that helps out a lot logistically”
Texas relays:
The Racers sent four athletes down to Austin. Those names include senior Tamdra Lawrence, senior Daijah White, freshman Rachel Hagans, and sophomore Antoinetta Avant.
Lawrence ran the 100m, finishing 37th of 100 with a time of 11.83. Lawrence beat out top universities as in Duke University, Oklahoma, Houston, and many more. White and Hagans followed behind in the same event with 12.15 and 12.34 times.
Avant ran the 100m hurdles, beating out schools like Texas Tech and Houston with a time of 15.16.
The Racers finished 25th in the 4×100 relay with the OVC leading time of 46.98.
Bobcat Invite:
After their first day of events Lawrence, White, and Hagans flew to San Marcos and ran the top three OVC times in the 100m. Lawrence finished with a time of 11.70 to win third place, White finished fifth with 11.89, and Hagans ran 12.05 finishing seventh overall.
The trio was eventually joined by senior Aubrey Main, freshman Ashlyn Oren, Redshirt sophomore Jessikha Ribeiro, freshman JaKayla McSwain, senior Ida Mutai, freshman Emma Creviston, and senior Rachel Gootee.
Oren and Riberio also competed in the heptathlon alongside Main. Oren finished 10th, Riberio right behind with 12th.
Mutai finished the 3000m steeplechase in sixth place with a time of 11:32.96. Creviston won her heat, finishing eleventh overall with an 11:44.16 time.
Jakayla McSwain finished the 400m 25th with a time of 58.20, followed by Hagans who ran 1:02.56.
Gootee finished 27th in the hammer throw, throwing 47.09 meters.
However, Main stole the show in the heptathlon on Friday to cap off the Bobcat Invite for the Racers. She finished atop all competitors, and was only beaten by one pro athlete, during the heptathlon with a whopping 4789 points. The senior also clinched the second-place spot in the 800m with a time of2:23:96. She also won the high jump with a 1.70-meter height.
“We were not surprised” Said Kiesler. “We expect those things from her now as a senior and someone as a high-level competitor”
Joey Haines Invitational:
The only event competed in by the Racers was the hammer throw where the racers racked up the 14th, 19th, and 22nd finishes with junior Destiny Carey throwing 43.67 meters, junior Jewel Wagner throwing 40.32 meters, and freshman Clara Tarpey tossing it 38.03 meters.
What’s next:
After their busy weekend, the Racers will have a week to prepare for their next events at Austin Peay on April 12-13.
“In the next few weeks we need to refocus on a few things,” Kiesler said. “Right now we are in a very good spot, I think we need to not be satisfied and keep moving forward”