JOPLIN, Mo. – The final day of the Missouri Southern Invitational brought some strong finishes and a few changes to the school record books for the men’s and women’s indoor track teams this afternoon.
Erika Setzler was the lone Bear to set a new school record on the afternoon, doing so in the 5,000 meter run. Setzler placed second and finished in 18:50.15, shattering Emily Carrol’s previous school record of 19:41.83, set back on Dec. 2.
The women went on to tie records in two other events, including the 60 meter dash and pole vault.
Tanesha Maxwell tied her own school record of 7.77 and won the 60 meter race. Her fellow teammate, Jatoi Snell, who finished fourth in the prelims yesterday, improved to third place today in the finals with a time of 7.94.
In the pole vault, McKinley Rea cleared 3.40 meters, which tied her best mark previously set on Feb. 5, 2010. Rea finished second in the event behind Missouri Southern’s Melanie Bower.
The women’s team was able to earn first place finishes in two other events this afternoon. Courtney Efurd and Kayla Nehus finished one and two in the 800 meter run. Efurd posted a time of 2:21.27 while Nehus crossed the finish in 2:25.90. Efurd and Nehus also finished second and third in the mile run with times of 5:14.60 and 5:19.72.
The UCA women were dominant in the 60 meter hurdle finals. Jasmine Ellis (8.88), Megan Snow (9.07) and Jean-Neka Black (9.08) finished one, two and three respectively. Jatoi Snell, also competing in the event finished in sixth place with a mark of 9.54.
Demarcus Harrison was responsible for the lone first place men’s finish this afternoon. The Texarkana, Texas native finished first in the 60 meter hurdles with a mark of 8.38. He edged out Patrick Bodie of Cowley Community College, who clocked in at 8.40.
Meanwhile, in the high jump, Bobby Washington brought home a top-three finish, as he cleared 2.05 meters—good enough for second place. James Anderson finished just behind in third, with a jump of 2.00 meters.
Not to be outdone, junior Daniel Reese earned a top-three finish in the pole vault. Reese cleared 4.65 meters in the event which is tied for the fourth best mark in school history.
The Bears continue their indoor season next weekend when they compete in the ASU Invitational in Jonesboro, Ark.
