Joplin, Mo, - The Missouri Southern women's and men's outdoor track and field teams kicked off the second week of the season with an action-packed weekend, competing at three major meets across the region. Distance runners showcased their speed at the WashU Distance Carnival in St. Louis, Mo., while sprinters and jumpers made their mark at the Bearcat Invitational in Bolivar, Mo. Meanwhile, the throwers brought their best to the ESU Relays in Emporia, Kan. The Lions returned home with nine 1st place finishes, 17 NCAA Qualifying Marks, 23 personal records, and a new facility record. Additionally, two Lions now sit atop the 2025 DII rankings in both the women's and men's javelin, and second in the women's shot put.
 
WashU Distance Carnival | St. Louis, Mo.
The Lions distance runners traveled to Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. on Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28 for the annual Distance Carnival. The meet was highlighted by Ryan Riddle, who set both a new personal best and a facility record in the men's 5000m race.
 
Men's 5000m
Ryan Riddle claimed 1^st place in the men's 5k setting a new personal best and facility record with a NCAA Qualifying Time of 13:51.11. His time now places him at #2 in the MSSU record books. Jaden Deaton placed 27^th with a new personal best time of 14:30.49.
 
Women's 5000m
Lilah Genel in 43^rd with a time of 17:33.62 followed closely by Isabella Frost placed 45^th with a personal best time of 17:35.76 and Jayna Gunter in 49th with a time of 17:37.42. Hailey Nelson came in 63^rd with a time of 17:55.06. Ava Power placed 92^nd with a personal best time of 18:23.36 and Zoe Nelson placed 116^th with a time of 18:40.68.
 
Men's 1500m
Kaden Cole placed 32^nd in the men's 1500m run with a time of 3:56.17 followed by Geordan Patrylak in 35^th with a time of 4:02.24.
 
Women's 1500m
Kayanna Adams placed 36^th in the women's 1500m run with a time of 4:52.86.
 

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Bearcat Invitational | Bolivar, Mo.
On Saturday, March 29, the Lions sprinters and jumpers headed to Southwest Baptist University for the annual Bearcat Invitational. The event was marked by five 1st place finishes, twelve personal records, and four NCAA Qualifying Marks.
 
Women's 100m Hurdles
Ashyiria Savage takes 1^st place in the women's 100m hurdles with a personal best and NCAA Qualifying time of 14.08 seconds, followed closely by Aryah Moore placed 2^nd with a personal best of 14.50 seconds. Maggie Kauk takes 7^th place with a personal best time of 15.26 seconds.
 
Men's 110m Hurdles
JaDarius Pigg claimed 1^st place in the men's 110m hurdles with an NCAA Qualifying Time of 14.15 seconds followed by Ryan Jackson in 5^th with a personal best time of 15.47 seconds.
 
Men's 100m Dash
Cody Grant takes 4^th place in the men's 100m dash with a personal best time of 10.63 seconds.
 
Women's 4x100
The relay team of Aryah Moore, Morgan Pork, Ashyiria Savage and Maggie Kauk claimed 4^th place in the women's 4x100 with a time of 47.42 seconds.
 
Men's 400m
Sebastian Cooper takes 4^th place in the men's 400m dash with a time of 48.71 seconds. Matthew Haddock placed 7^th with a time of 50.31 seconds, followed by JaDarius Pigg in 13^th place with a time of 51.92 seconds.
 
Men's 800m
Miguel Solano Jr. placed 1^st in the men's 800m run with a time of 1:54.43 seconds.
 
Women's 400m Hurdles
Kinzley Cantwell placed 6^th in the women's 400m hurdles with a personal best time of 1:08.61.
 
Men's 400m Hurdles
Ryan Jackson placed 2^nd in the men's 400m hurdles with a personal best time of 55.03 seconds.
 
Women's 200m
Ashyiria Savage placed 10^th with a time of 25.37 seconds. Maggie Kauk placed 21^st in the women's 200m dash with a personal best time of 26.75 seconds.
 
Men's 200m
Cody Grant placed 7^th in the men's 200m dash with a personal best time of 22.18 seconds.
 
Women's Long Jump
Gabrielle McPherson placed 7^th in the women's long jump with a mark of 5.37m, followed by Maggie Kauk in 10^th with a mark of 5.18m.
 
Men's Long Jump
Caleb Manning takes 2^nd place in the men's long jump with a mark of 7.25m, followed closely by Donovyn Fowler in 3^rd with a mark of 7.19m. Ayden Walton placed 6^th with a personal best jump of 6.80m and Peyton McBride placed 9^th with a jump of 6.62m.
 
Women's Pole Vault
Abby Hobbs placed 5^th in the women's pole vault with a mark of 3.50m, followed by Emma Hobbs in 6^th with a mark of 3.35m.
 
Men's Triple Jump
Caleb Manning takes 1^st place in the men's triple jump with a new personal best and NCAA Qualifying Mark of 15.61m. Manning now holds the #2 spot in the MSSU Record Books. Peyton McBride placed 3^rd with a jump of 14.29m.
 
Men's High Jump
Luke Brumit claimed 1^st place in the men's high jump with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 2.08m.
 
Women's High Jump
Coryn Fair placed 3^rd in the women's high jump with a jump of 1.64m, followed by Maggie Kauk in 10^th with a personal best time of 1.49m.
 

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ESU Relays | Emporia, Kan.
The Lions throwers traveled to Emporia State University for a two-day meet on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29. The competition was marked by three 1st place finishes, 12 NCAA Qualifying Marks, and six personal records. Additionally, two Lions have risen to the top of the DII rankings in both the women's and men's javelin, with another ranking second in the women's shot put.
 
Men's Hammer Throw
Tyson Williams takes 5^th place in the men's hammer with a new personal best throw of 54.85m.
 
Women's Hammer Throw
Dailynn VanDeren takes 2^nd place in the women's hammer with a new personal best and NCAA Qualifying Mark of 55.13m, followed closely by Kirsten Womack in 3^rd place with a throw of 51.54m. Briar Gillum placed 8^th with a mark of 48.58m.
 
Men's Discus
Jamale Williams takes 5^th place in the men's discus with a new personal best and NCAA Qualifying Mark of 50.76m, followed by Cedric Pearson in 6^th with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 50.58m. Tyson Williams placed 8^th with a personal best throw of 47.24m.
 
Women's Discus
Kirsten Womack placed 3^rd in the women's discus with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 47.53m, followed by Briar Gillum in 5^th with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 46.02m.
 
Men's Javelin
Garrett Strange claimed 1^st place in the men's javelin with a personal best and NCAA Qualifying Mark of 71.09m. Strange now holds the top spot in 2025 DII rankings and has claimed the #2 spot in the MSSU Record Books. Ethan Dias placed 4^th with a personal best and NCAA Qualifying Mark of 65.82m, followed by Clifton Bridgewater in 11^th with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 59.38m.
 
Women's Javelin
Keilee Johnson claimed 1^st place in the women's javelin with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 50.12m, claiming the top the 2025 DII rankings.
 
Men's Shot Put
Cedric Pearson takes 1^st place in the men's shot put with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 18.23m.
 
Women's Shot Put
Dailynn VanDeren takes 2^nd placed in the women's shot put with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 14.98m, taking the #2 spot in the 2025 DII rankings. Briar Gillum placed 3^rd with an NCAA Qualifying Mark of 14.51m followed by Kirsten Womack in 8^th with a throw of 12.85m.
 
Up next is the Midwest Classic on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 as the Lions travel back to Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan.
 
NCAA Qualifying Marks
Ryan Riddle - Men's 5000m
Ashyiria Savage - Women's 100m Hurdles
JaDarius Pigg - Men's 110m Hurdles
Caleb Manning - Men's Triple Jump
Luke Brumit - Men's High Jump
Dailynn VanDeren - Women's Hammer Throw
Jamale Williams - Men's Discus
Cedric Pearson - Men's Discus
Kirsten Womack - Women's Discus
Briar Gillum - Women's Discus
Garrett Strange - Men's Javelin
Ethan Dias - Men's Javelin
Clifton Bridgewater - Men's Javelin
Keilee Johnson - Women's Javelin
Cedric Pearson - Men's Shot Put
Dailynn VanDeren - Women's Shot Put
Briar Gillum - Women's Shot Put