JOPLIN, Mo. – The University of Central Arkansas track and field team was back in action Friday in the Missouri Southern Invitational, seeing their first action in over a month where they last competed in the Arkansas State Kickoff Classic on Dec. 2.
The two-day event opened with teams competing in six different events which featured everything from weight throw to the 3,000 meter run.
The UCA women had an impressive showing as they placed first in three separate events, including long jump, the 60 meter dash preliminary and the 60 meter hurdle preliminary. Meanwhile, the men earned a pair of second place finishes in each the 60 meter hurdle preliminary and the long jump.
The Bear women dominated the 60 meter hurdle preliminary, placing four participants in the top-5. Jasmine Ellis was first with a mark of 9.02. She was followed by Megan Snow (9.10), Jean-Neka Black (9.20) and Jatoi Snell (9.33).
Snow then followed up her second place finish in hurdles with a first place performance in the long jump. The Mountain View, Ark. native heaved herself 5.42 meters to take the event. Shelby Newell and Emily Paullus, each of Missouri Southern, finished tied for second after jumping 5.22 meters.
Sophomore Tanesha Maxwell earned the first place finish in the 60 meter dash preliminary, clocking a time of 7.78. Juanita Holmes of Bacone and Jasmin Hughes of Missouri Southern rounded out the top-three in the event.
A second place finish in the 60 meter hurdle preliminary and the long jump highlighted the men’s first day at the meet. Demarcus Harrison finished just seven thousandths of a second behind Kevin Hood (unattached) in the hurdle prelim. Hood’s time of 8.4015 just edged out Harrison’s mark of 8.4082. The two will meet again Saturday in the 60 meter hurdle finals.
Meanwhile, in the long jump, senior Jaron Criswell recorded a mark of 7.31. He was beaten out by Tyrone Smith’s 7.73 meter jump. Orland Ezell of Coffeyville was third in the event, clearing 7.29 meters.
The finale of the two-day event will reconvene Saturday morning inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Complete Day One Results
