It’s another season, another MIAA championship for the Pitt State Gorillas, both men’s and women’s. It’s been nothing short of a dominant indoor track and field season for Pitt State, and that was cemented again this week. For the women’s it’s the ninth title in the last ten seasons, while it’s the tenth title in the last thirteen for the men’s.
Not only did the men win the tournament, but they also posted 225 points – the highest point total in MIAA Indoor Championships history – to beat MIAA runner-up Northwest Missouri by 110 points. The Bearcats finished the meet with 115 points, while third-place Missouri Southern State University totaled 88.5 points.
“I’d say it went pretty well. The men’s team sets the new MIAA point record. It’s pretty good,” head coach Kyle Rutledge said.
The Gorillas captured eight MIAA titles on the day: Redshirt sophomore Grayson Smith in the pole vault (17-2.25); redshirt junior Dylan Sprecker in the mile (4:10.01) & the 3,000 meters (8:18.39); junior Ilias Garcia in the 60 meters (6.59); junior Caden Williams in the 400 meters (46.24); freshman William Seitz in the 600-yard run (1:09.97) redshirt freshman Griouard Weddington in the 200 meters (21.04); and the 4x400m relay of sophomore Amar Williams, junior Logan Davis, redshirt sophomore Caden Uthe and junior Nate Watson (3:07.53).
The Gorillas also registered five MIAA runner-up performances Sunday: Redshirt sophomore Drake Stapleton in the shot put (60-0); freshman Braylon Brown in the pole vault (17-2.25); redshirt sophomore Johnetheon Lockett in the triple jump (49-7.25); Watson in the 400m (46.29); and junior Braylon Thompson in the 200m (21.15). Other Sunday point scorers included: Weddington, 60m (3rd, 6.66); junior Tyrone Jackson, 60m hurdles (3rd, 7.85); Logan, 400m (3rd, 46.55); senior Kemarri Stewart, 60m (4th, 6.70) & 200m (5th, 21.50); redshirt junior Jordan Kilonzo, 800m (4th, 1:51.91); freshman Antwan Dawson, triple jump (5th, 48-8.25); redshirt sophomore Eli Gilmore, 600-yard run (5th, 1:10.86); senior Britton Gage, pole vault (T6th, 16-6.5); Thompson, 60m (6th, 6.72); sophomore Amar Williams, 400m (6th, 47.58); sophomore Na’Koriyon James, 60m hurdles (7th, 8.07); freshman TyQuarious Ivy, triple jump (7th, 47-7.25); junior Albert House, 60m hurdles (8th, 16.39).
The women just narrowly missed resetting the point total record they set last year, finishing the three-day meet with an MIAA record 212 points, besting second-place Northwest Missouri State University by 106 points. The Bearcats finished the meet with 106 points. Washburn University posted 90 points to finish in third place.
The Gorillas secured three individual MIAA crowns on the day: Sophomore Lily Brown in the triple jump (40-3); sophomore Kayvon Nubine in the 60-meter hurdles (8.29) and junior Paige Mullen in the 3,000 meters (9:49.15).
The Gorillas also registered a trio MIAA runner-up performances Sunday: Junior Jazmine Williamson in the triple jump (39-11.25); graduate student Zyra Shivers in the 60m hurdles (8.34) and the 4x400m relay of freshman Nikole Cozort, senior Isabel Abdouch, senior Kinleigh Hall and sophomore Mikah Edwards (3:40.50). Other Sunday point scorers included: Senior Makayla Pavelka, triple jump (3rd, 38-9.25); freshman Piper Hula, 600-yard run (3rd, 1:23.48); senior Kaci Singer, 3,000m (3rd, 9:49.61); freshman Alexa Binkley, triple jump (4th, 38-8.25); Edwards, 400m (4th, 55.19); senior Abby Lasiter, shot put (5th, 45-7.25); junior Kinley Smith, triple jump (5th, 37-5.5); redshirt freshman McKinlee Walker, 60m hurdles (5th, 8.63); Hall, 400m (5th, 55.27); freshman Jakayla Morgan, 600-yard run (6th, 1:25.06); Abdouch, 200m (6th, 24.50); Cozort, 400m (7th, 55.38); and redshirt sophomore Kelsey Bruening, 800m (7th, 2:15.56).
“The nature of the event itself brings out a lot of big marks. It’s the intensity and passion they have to win the conference. It’s a big deal for our kids and a big deal for our program,” Coach Rutledge said.
The Gorillas will now prepare for the NCAA indoor Division II Championships in a couple of weeks.