After completing their runs as NCAA Division II indoor track and field champions, it’s back to business as usual for the Gorillas, as they started the outdoor track and field season officially with the University of Central Missouri Invitational. This was followed by the Saint Mary Spire Distance Carnival, Washington University Distance Carnival, and the Emporia State University Spring Open.
Starting with the UCM Invitational, the throwers all competed for both men’s and women’s teams. Several Gorillas enjoyed solid performances in the season opener, highlighted by freshman Alycia Cosen’s collegiate debut in the women’s javelin. Cosens unleashed the second-best mark in Pitt State history with her winning throw of 163 feet, 0 inches. Fellow freshman Claire Vanderweide also placed second in the discipline with a toss of 148-9.
In other women’s action, sophomore Kelci Locke registered a personal best with her winning throw of 156-9 in the discus. Her mark sits at No. 8 on Pitt State’s all-time top 10 list. Senior Abby Lasiter also won the hammer throw with an NCAA qualifying mark of 184-5 and placed second in the shot put (44-0.5).
Redshirt sophomore Drake Stapleton paced the Pitt State men with victories and PR marks in the shot put (59-1.5) and the discus (177-5). Stapleton’s shot-put mark ranks No. 7 all-time at Pitt State while his discus throw ranks No. 8 in school history.
Senior Jack Haukap also won the hammer throw with an NCAA qualifying mark of 216-0, while sophomore Trace Hanchett (220-7) and freshman Gannon Marquardt (207-10) finished first and second in the javelin. Junior Brennan Boord also placed second in the hammer throw (193-2) and third in the discus (165-6). Boord’s hammer toss ranks No. 10 all-time at Pitt State.
At the Saint Mary Spire Distance Carnival, just the men traveled to the meet. Redshirt junior Dylan Sprecker recorded a personal best time in the 1,500 meters, improving his No. 2 all-time ranking in school history with a time of 3 minutes, 40.70 seconds. Redshirt junior Jordan Kilonzo also was clocked in 3:51.68 in the race. In the 800 meters, redshirt sophomore Eli Gilmore recorded a PR time of 1:50.38.
At the ESU Spring Open the women’s side started with Winn leading the Gorillas by placing in a trio of events. She finished third in the 400 meters (58.57), fourth in the javelin (149-7) and fifth in the shot put (43-10.5). Winn recorded a PR with her best mark in the javelin. Lasiter added a second place showing in the hammer throw (178-9) and Cosens finished fifth in the javelin (145-3). On the men’s side Haukap placed second overall, first among collegians, in the hammer (217-11). Hanchett added a fourth place showing in the javelin (208-4) and Stapleton finished fourth in the shot put (56-9.5).
Finally, a handful of distance runners competed at the Washington University Distance Carnival at St. Louis, Mo., Friday. Redshirt junior Nathan Hinrichs recorded a personal best time of 14:45.54 in the men’s 5,000 meters, while sophomore Lorna Rae Pierce paced the Pitt State women with a time of 17:23.57 in the women’s 5,000 meters.
Pitt State returns to action this weekend at the 37th Annual Jock’s Nitch/PSU Gorilla Relays on April 3, followed by the 18th Annual David Suenram Gorilla Classic on April 4.