FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Up around the campus of the University of Arkansas, Lamar University's track and field squads continued their dazzling displays at the John McDonnell Invitational. While the Redbirds collected a couple of firsts, a meet record, and more top three finishes, it was their ability to put up numbers off of those top three spots that stood out as well.
Highlighting this event was Cara Inch who set a personal best in the women's 3000m final with meet record of 9:45.74 to claim first place. Another first place finish came from Kenson Tate, who in his strongest event, the men's long jump, leapt 7.79m (25'6.75"), which more than a foot ahead of the next best competitor.
Crawford Kiser had himself a personal best with a time of 8:27.47 in the men's 3000m. Kayli Johnson racked up a third place finish in the 100m hurdles posting 13.71 and also was fifth in the long jump (5.77m-18'11.25") eclipsing teammate Clemence Varin by .7 meters. The men's triple jump produced two strong finishes from Jacarrius Demmerritte and Exavion Harris. Demmerritte logged in a total of 14.78m (48'6") for a silver medal while Harris posted his best mark and placement as he earned bronze at 14.38m (47'2.25").
On Thursday, Alex Williams III had a strong showing in the hammer throw. Finishing 10th in a strong field of the nation's elite, he had a toss of 53.30m (174'10"). Friday morning saw him place fourth in the shot put at 16.43m (53'11"). It also saw Anthony Oliver post a fourth place finish in the men's discus with his toss of 47.53m (155'11").
In the women's 3000m steeplechase, Mykayla Mims posted a new personal best of 11:18.89, which got her fourth place. Jonathan Rivera medaled in third in the men's portion with 9:50.91 while Dominick Luna set a new personal best of 10:02.33 to earn fourth. Cameron Chin clocked in a new personal best in the 400m at 46.60 seconds, which not only fifth in the meet, but has him up to sixth all-time in program history.
Then, there was Brianna Howard, who blazed her way to a second place finish in the 100m (11.51), but was the top collegiate athlete in the event. Later on, she set a new 200m personal best (23.65), which got her second in the heat, but also was the third best mark in school history and has her ranked in the top 50 in all of the NCAA West Region. Also having an impact was Chloe Rodriguez, who took second in the 400m hurdles (59.12).
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