Bears' track and field standout Tracy Partain won the 400-meter hurdle competition on Saturday's conclusion of the 10th Annual Tom Botts Invitational in Columbia, Mo. Partain's time of 59.83 surpassed the NCAA regional qualifying mark of 1:00.82 and has earned her the chance to compete at the NCAA regional meet in May. Partain also qualified for the regional meet in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.78.

Along with Partain's top performance in the 400-meter hurdles, she also took home a win in the high jump, clearing a height of 5'07". In the 100-meter hurdles, Partain finished second in a time of 13.78 and surpassed the NCAA regional qualifying mark of 13.92. For her outstanding performances on the weekend, Partain was named the Tom Botts Female Athlete of the Meet.

Senior sprint specialist Danielle Norville ran her best time of the season in the 100-meter dash and finished first in 11.87. She also added a win in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.23.

On the men's side of the Tom Botts Invite, MSU senior Justin Alberts grabbed first-place honors with a time of 48.07 in the 400-meter dash. Teammate Kareem Samuel finished third in 48.60.

At the conclusion of the University of Tennessee Sea Ray Relays, in Knoxville, Tenn., Michael Breshears headlined the Bears' men's team by finishing fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase invitational with a time of 9:15.62.

Ashley Sanders and Carrie Vestal had a ninth and tenth-place finish for Missouri State in the 5,000-meter run. Sanders placed ninth in 17:36.74 and Vestal ran a personal-best time of 17:41.03, earning her tenth.

The Missouri State track and field teams will travel to Lawrence, Kan., for the University of Kansas Relays beginning Thursday, April 20, and concluding on Saturday, April 22.