The Pitt state track and field teams kept up the good work this weekend, continuing to impress on both the women’s and men’s sides. Pitt State just had a dominant run last weekend, when they hosted the Rumble in the Jumble D2 Invitational. Both men’s and women’s teams took home the gold, along with several record-breaking performances by the gorillas.
The momentum continued with the most recent competition, as they hosted the Pittsburg State Invitational. Both men’s and women’s team combined earned 35 NCAA qualifying marks, needed to secure a spot in the NCAA National Championships.
Redshirt senior Blakelee Winn headlined the women’s 16 qualifying marks toward the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships in March. Winn set a new school record in the long jump with her winning mark of 20 feet, 2.5 inches.
Redshirt senior Isabelle Peters also improved her No. 2 ranking in the pole vault Saturday with a season-best clearance of 13-11.25. Breanne Peters placed second in the discipline with a clearance of 13-3.5. Junior Jazmine Williamson also won the triple jump with a season best mark of 40-3; and junior Kyra Heald won the high jump with a best mark of 5-6.5.
On the track, Winn claimed victory in the 60-meter hurdles in a season best time of 8.50 seconds; freshman Jakayla Morgan won the 600-yard run in 1:27.13, and senior Isabel Abdouch won the 200 meters in 24.74. The 4x400m relay of junior Ala’Jah Brooks, freshman Piper Hula, freshman Nikole Cozort, and Abdouch posted the third-fastest time in D2 this season in 3:44.72.
Junior newcomer Ilias Garcia highlighted the men’s 19 qualifying marks by clocking the fastest time in Division II this season in winning the 60 meters in 6.63 seconds. His time was the second-fastest in Pitt State history as well.
Junior Tyrone Jackson (7.79) and sophomore Na’Koriyon James logged the No. 2 and No. 4 times in D2 this season in the 60m hurdles, while junior Nate Watson was clocked in a season-best time of 47.25 in winning the 400 meters Saturday.
Redshirt Sophomore Greyson Smith posted the No. 5 mark in D2 this season, winning the pole vault with a clearance of 17-1 – the fourth-best mark in school history. The 4x400m relay of sophomore Amar Williams, junior Kevar Williams, junior Caden Williams and Watson also clocked the No. 3 time in D2 – 3:08.97. Redshirt junior Dylan Sprecker also recorded a personal-best time of 4:00.27 in winning the mile run. His mark is second overall in Pitt State history.
In short, in just the third competition of this young year, the Pitt State Gorillas are showing why they were national champions last year and promising to do more of the same. It’s shaping up to be another very promising year for both the men’s and women’s track and field teams, and the season is only just beginning. This season promises to be historic for Pittsburg State.