Personal bests carry the highs until the last meeting of the regular season

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Track & Field recorded major personal bests across the board in its final weekend of the regular season, with most of the team taking part in the Samford Bulldog Invite at the Birmingham Crossplex on Friday. A few select distance runners also competed Friday and Saturday in Vanderbilt’s Music City Challenge as Heckman Savannah ran the fifth-fastest indoor 5k time in school history in the exclusive meet.

Overall, WKU earned eight top-five finishes, including two event titles. Ajla Basic won the women’s shot put with a PR of 17.78m (58′ 4″) while Kaison Barton recorded a PR indoor shot put of 16.78m (55′ 0.75″) to win the event.

“The competition went very well for the pitchers and a few other athletes,” said the Cross County/Track & Field manager. Brent Chumbley. “Almost every thrower had a PR today, the biggest being Brett (Brannon) who finally broke the 18-yard barrier in the shot put. Kaison had a good indoor PR in the shot put to win this event, and Ajla won the women’s shot put with a PR as well. We competed very well as a group and went from strength to strength during the competition.”

Brannon’s 18+ yard throw in the shot put was good for second while John Elam placed second in the shot put and fifth in the shot put, with a PR in the latter.

In the pole vault, Grace Turner finished second after clearing 3.66 meters while Devon Montgomery finished fourth in the men’s competition with a mark of 4.52 meters.

On the race side of the Bulldog Invite, middle distance runner Elyssa Toal recorded a personal best 2:21.22 in the 800 meter race and finished 16th. Zackery Martinez also improved his PR by almost a second in the 400 to 50.32. Trey Kraimer and Collin Pruitt also saved time on their public relations in the 800 and the mile, respectively.

“Grace and Devon jumped very well today even though the results show an average day,” added Chumbley. “On the track, I think we had two great outstanding performances. Zack and Elyssa had major PR in their events and improved throughout the season. Everyone is looking to build on that momentum on the weekend. “Next end. I’m very excited about the throw and jump group heading into the conference.”

At Vanderbilt’s Music City Challenge, Dedrick Troxell posted the fifth fastest mile in the conference at 4:08.89, a new personal best for the runner. Clint Sherman also posted a PR in the event at 4:14.47. He turned around to compete again on Saturday morning and recorded another PR in the 3k.

Heckman’s 5k time of 16:45.61 is not only a new personal best of 19 seconds and the fifth fastest time in program history, but it is the fastest of any women’s C -USA this season of 48 seconds.

“Coming to the Music City Challenge is a pivotal moment for the WKU distance group, as it is not a meet we have been able to qualify athletes for in the past,” the assistant coach said. Brooks The Count. “I’m proud of these young men and women for their buy-in and commitment as their hard work pays off. Clint and Dedrick started with public relations over a mile while achieving the best 400-yard fence ever. they’ve had the whole season, which should have had them ready for C-USA Savannah then ran the fifth-fastest 5k in school history with a PR of 19 seconds and a great finish in a very competitive field. Clint returned for another race less than 24 hours later with a PR of 3km in the morning session.

WKU Track & Field now has a week of preparation before wrapping up the team indoor season at the Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday.

Vanderbilt Results
Mile

28^and – Dedrick Troxell – 4:08.89*
49^and – Clint Sherman – 4:14.47*
3000m women

42^n/a – Lucy Rutherford – 10:37.52
3000m Men

20^and – Clint Sherman – 8:27.26*
5000m

16^and – Heckman Savannah – 16:45.61* – fifth fastest women’s indoor 5k in program history

Samford Women’s Results
Shot put

9^and – Ines Lopez Arias – 11.54m (37′ 10.5″)
Shot put

1^st – Ajla Basic – 17.78m (58′ 4″)*
3^rd – Aïtana Safont Falomir – 17.40m (57′ 1″)*
6^and – Ines Lopez Arias – 15.76m (51′ 8.5″)
Pole vault

2^n/a – Grace Turner – 3.66m (12′)
11^and – Nikki Ogorek – 3.21m (10′ 6.25″)
Allison Ferguson – NH
Heather Gaughran – NH
long jump

6^and – Samyzia Sears – 5.49m (18′ 0.25″)
big jump

seven^and – Allison Arnet – 1.58m (5′ 2.25″)
60m hurdles
Samyzia Sears – DNF
800m

16^and – Elyssa Toal – 2:21.22*
27^and – Madeleine Powell – 2:30.54
Abigail Green – DNF
Mile

22^n/a – Jenna Vaughn – 5:29.24

Samford Men’s Results
Shot put

1^st – Kaison Barton – 16.78m (55′ 0.75″)
2^n/a – John Elam – 15.57m (51′ 1″)
Shot put

2^n/a – Brett Brannon – 18.07m (59′ 3.5″)*
5^and – John Elam – 16.63m (54′ 6.75″)*
6^and – Kaison Barton – 16.50m (54′ 1.75″)*
8^and – Joel Ditoe – 15.73m (51′ 7.25″)
Pole vault

4^and – Devon Montgomery – 4.52m (14′ 10″)
60m

30^and – Steven Simmons – 7:17 a.m.
33^rd – Gabriel Dozier – 7.22
60m hurdles

ten^and – Cedric Johnson – 8.58
200m

ten^and – Gabriel Dozier – 22.12
24^and – Steven Simmons – 22.97
400m

11^and – Zackery Martinez – 50.32*
800m

16^and – Trey Kraimer – 1:57.45*
18^and – Jordan Eddie – 1:59.36
Mile

20^and – Keegan Barnette – 4:30.96
22^n/a – Collin Pruitt – 4:33.68*