Pitt State hosted the 18th annual David Suenram Gorilla Classic this past weekend, winning 12 different individual events and earning a combined 27 NCAA qualifying marks. This is the first event held on the brand-new outdoor track, freshly built beside the existing indoor track facility.
The Pitt State women claimed seven individual event wins: Sophomore Bethany Umbarger in the high jump (5-8), redshirt freshman Breanne Peters in the pole vault (13-4.75), junior Jazmine Williamson in the long jump (20-7.75), sophomore Lily Brown in the triple jump (39-8.75), sophomore Kayvon Nubine in the 100m hurdles (13.74), freshman Jakayla Morgan in the 400m hurdles (1:03.46) and redshirt sophomore Kelsey Bruening in the 800 meters (2:17.05).
Peters led a one-two-three finish in the pole vault as sophomore Cannon Booker placed second (13-4.75) and redshirt senior Isabelle Peters finished third (13-0.75). Senior Abby Lasiter placed second in the hammer throw (182-10) and fourth in the shot put (43-11.5). Freshman Alycia Cosens (148-5), freshman Madi Olds (146-8) and freshman Claire Vanderweide (144-10) finished second through fourth in the javelin.
On the track, redshirt freshman McKinlee Walker placed second in the 100m hurdles (13.76); graduate student Kiara Brown finished second in the 200 meters (24.51); sophomore Brooklyn Baker placed second in the long jump (19-7); and junior Kyra Heald finished second in the high jump (5-7).
The Pitt State men scored individual wins by: Redshirt sophomore Grayson Smith in the pole vault (17-4.5), senior Jack Haukap in the weight throw (211-1), sophomore Trace Hancett in the javelin (211-9), junior Braylon Thompson in the 200m (21.05) and graduate student Woyn Chatman in the 400 meters (47.80).
Freshman Braylon Brown (pole vault, 16-8), junior Tyrone Jackson (110m hurdles, 14.02), senior Xavier Carmichael (100 meters, 10.55), and redshirt freshman Griouard Weddington (200m, 21.13) all logged second-place performances. Junior Brennan Boord placed third in the discus (171-7) and fourth in the hammer throw (193-1), while redshirt sophomore Drake Stapleton finished third in the shot put (56-4.5) and fourth in the discus (170-1).
The men’s team is looking for another MIAA title and National Championship in NCAA Division II outdoor track and field, as they have been dominant for the past few years in both indoor and outdoor track and field. On the women’s side, they are coming back as MIAA Champions as well, and placed third overall in the National Championship.
The Gorillas will divide and conquer this coming weekend, as they will compete in the Bryan Clay Multis at Cougar Athletic Field in Azusa, California, the UCM Kip & Kirk Mule Relays at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Warrensburg, Missouri, and the Arkansas Spring Invitational at John McDonnell in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The MIAA title competition will take place on May 1, hosted by the Gorillas at their brand-new outdoor facility.