Columbia, SC – The Mississippi College Track and Field team showcased an impressive performance at the South Carolina Garnet Invitational. The Choctaws left their mark with four event wins, five Provo marks, and seven performances added to the Mississippi College Indoor Track & Field Top-10 lists, bringing the total for the season to 53.
The meet kicked off with a bang as Women's 3,000-meter school record holder Emily Berry put on a stunning performance in the Women's 5,000-meter run. She claimed both a meet win and the No. 2 All-time performance in program history, clocking an impressive time and lifetime best of 17:27.41. Following suit, Bre Bell added to the excitement by finishing runner-up in the Women's 5,000m, notching the No. 3 All-time performance in program history and another lifetime best with a time of 17:31.81. This fantastic achievement resulted in a Lady Choctaw 1-2 sweep, and the pair are now ranked second and fourth in the Gulf South Conference, respectively.
In the Men's 1-mile run, Cole Benoit was unstoppable, securing the second win of the day for the Choctaws while achieving a PROVO mark with a blazing time of 4:09.31. His performance was nothing short of exceptional, highlighting his dedication and talent.
Teammates Carson Smith and Preston Speed weren't far behind. Smith, a freshman from Tulsa, OK., finished third in 4:13.6, while Speed earned a lifetime best and No. 10 All-time spot in program history in a speedy 4:15.2, good for fourth place overall.
The Women's 1-mile run witnessed yet another triumph for the Navy Blue and Gold as Taylor Benoit broke the tape in style, posting a lifetime best and NCAA DII Provo mark of 4:54.09. The sophomore sensation from French Camp, Miss., secured the second-fastest 1-mile performance in Mississippi College Women's Indoor Track & Field history and the first-ever win of her career. Additionally, fellow Lady Choctaws Jazmin Russell and Lauren Wallace followed suit - Russell in 4:54.35, another NCAA DII Provo mark, and Wallace in 5:00.05, sweeping the top three spots in the event.
Sprinting sensation Grayson Foster continued the Choctaws' winning streak, claiming victory in the Men's 400m dash with an NCAA DII Provo mark and the No. 2 All-time performance in program history, clocking an impressive 47.88 seconds. Foster's remarkable achievement catapulted him to the No. 11 spot in the NCAA DII national rankings and further solidified his No. 1 ranking in the Gulf South Conference.
Russell, Benoit, and Wallace continued their momentum from the Women's 1-mile run in the 800-meter run. Russell claimed her first win of the indoor season, crossing the line in a swift 2:15.84, good for No. 2 in the Gulf South Conference. Wallace finished sixth overall with a 2:16.83.
Not to be outdone, Benoit continued her remarkable day and secured two Top-10 program performances in a single meet. She finished runner-up in the Women's 800m with a lifetime best of 2:16.0, now ranking No. 4 on the All-time program lists. Wallace finished sixth overall with a 2:16.83.
In the Men's 3,000-meter run, Braedon Methvin and Cooper Parmer shone in the spotlight, finishing 2-3 and showcasing the team's depth in long-distance events.
In the field events, Jake Keesee led a formidable group in the Men's Weight Throw that included James David Miller and 2 x GSC Freshman of the Week Bryan Puckett. Keesee and Miller finished as the top competitors from the GSC, while the trio finished 2-3-5 in the competition, respectively.
The day ended on a high note as the Men's 4x400-meter relay quartet of Grayson Foster, Connor Stewart, Gabe Hodson, and Evan Wrights secured an NCAA DII Provo mark and a season-best of 3:13.78. Their performance earned them the No. 3 all-time spot in program history and currently ranks them eighth in NCAA Division II, making their presence known nationally.
Up Next:
Next up for Mississippi College Track & Field is the Pittsburg State Gorilla Classic in Pittsburg, KS, on Friday, February 9, as the Choctaws will travel their relay squads to secure qualifying marks for the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships.
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