Alyssa Tyler editor in chief
The Pittsburg State women’s track team is currently ranked No. 1 in the most recent USTFCCCA NCAA Division II National Track & Field Ratings Index. Pitt State men are ranked No. 2 nationally.
Pitt State Women have 10 national top five marks and 17 national top 10 performances, the 4x100m relay are currently the national leaders with a time of 44.69.
Pitt State men currently have five national top five marks and 13 national top 10 performances. Joel Nyatusah is currently a national leader with a time of 13.47 in the 110-meter hurdles. The men’s 4×400 m relay also holds the number one spot nationally with a time of 3:08.34.
Both teams secured their current placements through their dominant performance at the 16th Annual Gorilla Classic.
On April 6 the 4x100m relay broke the school record with a time of 44.69 seconds, with the group of: Blakelee Winn, Taniya Looney, Jamiya Morgan and Diandrenique Gaines.
Gaines ran a time of 11.32 seconds in the 100 meters to win overall. Looney placed second with a time of 11.54. Morgan placed third in the 200 meters with a finishing time of 24.05. The 4x400m relay, Kinleigh Hall, Mikah Edwards, Maddie O’Neill and Yasmine Johnson had a time of 3:47.09.
Moving to field events, Taylor Nelloms won overall in high jump with 5 feet, 8 inches. Haleigh Hadley and Allary Liberatore also cleared 5-8, securing the top three finishes with Gorilla athletes.
Nelloms then jumped 19-9.5 in the long jump to earn second place. Siby Yao took third with a jump of 19-8.25. Makayla Pavelka placed second in triple jump 38-7. Isabelle Peters cleared a height of 13-7.75 to place second overall.
Looking to throws, Abby Lasiter placed second with a throw of 180-5, then fourth in the shot put with a distance of 45-3. Amber Walbeck placed fourth in javelin with a throw of 142-7.
Moving to the men’s side, Joel Nyatusah won the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.47, also marking the third fastest time in school history. The 4×100 m relay consisting of Xavier Carmichael, Dakari Charlton, Dapriest Hogans, Dre’shaun Sanders, won overall with a time of 40.28. The 4×400 relay Woyn Chatman, Bailey Stone, Caden Williams, Sam Tudor won the race with a time of 3:08.34. Charlton ran a time of 10.22 in the 100 meters, securing second place. Nate Watson finished third with a time of 48.07.
Grayson Smith cleared a height of 16-7.25 in the pole vault.
Caleb Calvin threw 239-0 in javelin, winning overall. Jake Haukap threw 196-6 in the hammer throw, securing third overall.
On April 9 both Gaines and Nyatusah were named MIAA Athlete of the Week.
A portion of Pitt State athletes will travel to California to compete at the Pacific Coast Invitational. This meet is hosted by Long Beach University on Thursday, Apr. 11. Then the team will travel to the Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by the Azusa Pacific University from April 11-April 13.
Other athletes will travel to Emporia University to compete in the Midwest Classic. The last group will travel to the University of Central Missouri Mules Relays.
