ROLLA, Mo. - McKendree University's men's and women's track and field programs opened their outdoor season as they competed at the Miner Invitational on Saturday hosted by Missouri S&T. Both the men's and women's teams recorded four top five finishes at the Miner Invitational.
On the women's side, sophomore jumper Kiara Spates (Markham, Ill./Thornton Township) was second in the triple jump with a leap of 10.72 meters (35-2) and fifth in the high jump with her best height being 1.50 meters (4-11). Junior thrower Ndia Johnson (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) was third in the hammer throw with a throw of 42.76 meters (140-3).
On the men's side freshman distance runner Rodney Holas (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) recorded a second place finish in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 12:25.14 in his first ever collegiate steeplechase race. The men's 4x100 meter relay team of freshman DJ Willis (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest), senior Johnathan Bumpers (Alton, Ill./Alton), freshman Kai Toolie (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah), and graduate student Demetrius Walker (Commerce, Ga./Emmanuel) took home first in a time of 45.33.
The Bearcats return to action on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Complete results from the Don Denoon Invitational:
MEN'S RESULTS
100-meter dash (Finals)
18. Mason Young, 12.42
200-meter dash (Finals)
21. Marco Martinez
4x100 meter relay
1. DJ Willis, Johnathan Bumpers, Kai Toolie, Demetrius Walker, 45.33
110-meter hurdles (Finals)
4. Bumpers, 15.61
6. Walker, 15.88
8. Toolie, 16.36
400 meter dash
18. Toolie, 57.19
1500-meters
14. Seth Kasinger, 4:21.88
3000-meter Steeplechase
2. Rodney Holas, 12:25.14 - Personal Best
Long jump
7. Dontea Jones, 20'3" (6.17 meters)
15. Martinez , 17'4.75 " (5.30 meters)
Triple jump
2. Jones, 45'3.5" (13.80 meters)
WOMEN'S RESULTS
100-meter dash (Finals)
12. Brianna Sarver, 13.05 - Personal Best
13. Madison Davis, 13.11
200-meter dash (Finals)
10. Sarver, 26.95 - Personal Best
400-meter dash
7. Laila Searcy, 1:06.45 - Personal Best
800-meters
9. Madelyn Tepe, 2:28.04
1500-meters
10. Kayla Tirey, 5:33.79
Long jump
9. Spates, 16'7.25" (5.06 meters) - Personal Best
High Jump
5. Spates, 4'11" (1.50 meters)
Triple Jump
2. Spates, 35'2" (10.72 meters.)
Shot put
9. Ndia Johnson, 34'4.75" (10.48 meters)
14. Quinn Breeding, 30'4.25" (9.25 meters)
Discus
8. Johnson, 109'0" (33.22 meters)
9. Breeding 106'5" (32.44 meters)
Hammer Throw
3. Johnson, 140'3" (42.76 meters)
11. Breeding, 106'0" (32.31 meters)
