CLINTON, Miss. – The Mississippi College men's and women's track and field teams closed competition at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, MA on Saturday evening, as well as the Wendy's Pittsburg State Invitational in Pittsburg, Ka. on Saturday night, and several Choctaws had impressive outings.
Over in Boston, Emily Berry broke her second school record this season in the Women's 3,000m, Jan Lukas Becker secured a national qualifying mark in the Men's 5,000m, and the Women's DMR team of Taylor Benoit, Bre Bell, Jazmin Russell, and Lauren Wallace posted the No. 5 time in the country.
Additionally, at the Wendy's Pitt State Invitational, GSC leader Grayson Foster ran another provisional standard in Men's 400m, Evan Wrights ran the No. 3 time in the South Region and is now ranked second in the GSC, and Mississippi College Track and Field added seven marks to the program top 10 lists.
John Thomas Terrier Classic
Mississippi College's distance runners competed at the John Thomas Terrier Classic on Friday, Jan. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 27.
Reigning 10,000m national champion Jan Lukas Becker made his presence known in the Men's 5,000m, securing a national qualifying mark with a time of 13:54.79. A provisional standard, Becker now leads the Gulf South Conference and NCAA DII South Region, and is currently ranked eighth nationally.
Furthermore, 3,000m national qualifier and four-time GSC Champion Cole Benoit posted a GSC No. 2 performance of 8:16.54, another provisional standard for the Carrierre, Miss. native.
Emily Berry secured her second school record of the season in the Women's 3,000m, lowering her record to a stunning 9:51.51. The senior from Tyler, Tex. achieved a provisional standard, and is now ranked second in the GSC and 34th nationally.
Additionally, the Women's DMR squad of Taylor Benoit, Bre Bell, Jazmin Russell, and Lauren Wallace showed up and showed out, posting the No. 5 time in the country and No. 2 all-time performance in program history in 11:49.60,
But wait - there's more! Benoit, Russell, and Wallace all doubled back for day two of the competition to break five minutes in the mile, marking the first time in history that three lady Choctaws broke the five-minute barrier at the same meet. Moreover, Benoit's time of 4:56.92 makes her the second-fastest miler in school history.
Wendy's Pitt State Invitational
Over in the Sunflower State, 10 Choctaws were added to the Mississippi College Indoor Track & Field lists, as well as several lifetime bests and performances among the top of the GSC.
Grayson Foster, a freshman from Madison, Miss., achieved a provisional standard in the Men's 400m in 48.44 seconds. His lifetime best of 48.27 seconds set at the Crimson & Gold Classic continues to lead the GSC. The freshman phenom also secured a lifetime best in the Men's 200m of 22.13 seconds, good for No. 7 all-time in program history.
Evan Wrights made waves in the Men's 800m by winning his section in an awe-inspiring 1:53.39. Wrights, another freshman phenom for the Choctaws, now sits at No. 2 in the GSC and No. 5 all-time in program history.
Wrights doubled back in the Men's 4x400m relay to anchor the squad of Connor Stewart, Gabe Hodson, and Wesley Gibbs to another section victory in 3:19.07, making two section wins for the Mobile, Ala. native.
Senior veteran Nicole Morris spearheaded the field events, posting the No. 3 all-time performance in the Women's Weight Throw in program history in 15.08 meters, or 49 feet and six inches. Morris, the Lady Choctaws' school record holder in the Discus, is now ranked fourth in the GSC and fifth in the NCAA DII South Region.
Other top-10 all-time marks include Braedon Methvin's No. 6 All-time performance in program history in the Men's 5,000m, placing third overall at the Wendy's Pitt State Invitational in a lifetime best of 14:51.96. Kathy Hammond secured an indoor lifetime best in the Women's 800m in 2:22.90, good for No. 9 all-time in program history in the event. Lastly, Katie Gates, a freshman from Columbia, Miss., lowered her No. 4 all-time mark in the Women's 6-meter hurdles to 9.31 seconds, her second lifetime best in a row in back to back weekends.
Up Next:
Mississippi College will be back at it this weekend at the University of South Carolina for the South Carolina Invitatiional, set for Friday, February 2.
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