By Michael Stewart, Assistant Sports Editor
The Oklahoma Baptist men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in a pair of meets that took place Friday, March 12.
Part of the OBU team traveled to Wichita State University to participate in the KT Woodman Classic, while another group traveled to the University of Arkansas to compete in the John McDonnell Invitational.
“We were really looking forward to competing this weekend,” junior JoziRose Mayfield said. “Our team has been working very hard to prepare for big meets like these.”
In Fayetteville, the playing field was very competitive.
Many athletes from both Division II and Division I programs made for challenging competition.
“We were only worried about ourselves,” Mayfi eld said. “We were ready for the challenge and knew we had what it takes to make some noise.”
In the women’s track events, Mayfield and senior Leah Molter finished second and third in the women’s 400 hurdles with times of 1:01.57 and 1:01.95.
Molter finished fourth in women’s 100 hurdles.
In the women’s 400, sophomore Cameka Witter placed sixth with a time of 54.13.
Witter placed just ahead of senior teammate McKae Mitchell who finished seventh at 54.37.
Junior Tessa Potter finished seventh in the women’s 800 with a time of 2:14.05.
In the women’s field events, sophomore Julianna Horner finished fourth in the women’s shot put with a throw of 12.94m.
Sophomore Evelyn Carswell finished third in the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.63m.
“We gave everything we had in the competition,” junior Raigan Servati said. “I am proud of the effort that we gave.”
In the men’s track events, OBU’s freshman Noah Eskew finished third in the men’s 3000 with a time of 8:43.20.
Junior Brandon Crowley finished fourth in men’s 110 hurdles with a time of 14.40.
Freshman Eric Vander Walt, senior Andrew Worley and junior Cayden Spain finished in the sixth through eighth spots.
Lastly, freshman Logan Huslig came in fifth in the men’s 400 hurdles with a time of 54.90.
“The guys and girls both brought their best efforts,” junior Hayden Ashley said. “Nobody is better prepared than our team, and I am really thankful for all of our tough preparation.”
In the men’s field events, sophomore Nathaniel Worley won the men’s high jump com-petition with a best of 1.96m.
Ashley won the men’s javelin with a throw of 51.35m, finished second in the men’s long jump at 6.88m and finished tied for fourth in the pole vault with a distance of 4.50m.
“I felt really good heading into the weekend,” Ashley said. “Just wanted to come out and give my best effort and help my team as I could.”
Another group of OBU Bison athletes competed simultaneously in Wichita, KS. In the women’s track events, freshman Berkley Price was second in the women’s steeple-chase with a time of 11:42.07.
Sophomore Allison Derry finished third in the women’s 1500 at 4:43.54. Lastly, graduate student Kaylee Crowson came in third in the women’s 5000 with a time of 17:20.05.
“Our team has continued to get better every week and with every practice,” Servati said. “I really am excited to see how far we are able to go and see what all that we can accomplish together.”
One of the biggest parts of the OBU track and field team is the family mentality.
“This is one big family that loves to support one another,” Mayfield said. “We are all truly wishing the best for one another and encouraging everyone to do their best.”
Next up, OBU will host the 2019 Great American Conference Outdoor Championships beginning April 18 at the Eddie Hurt Jr. Memorial Track Complex in Shawnee, OK
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