The Missouri State track and field team traveled to Joplin, Mo., for the first day of the Fazoli’s/Baymont Inn Missouri Southern Open Invitational.  The Bears, with a less-than-full squad, competed in the weight throw, long jump, 200-meter dash and 3,000-meter run today.

Sophomore Shawnt Middlebrook continued to impress in the long jump.  She placed fourth with a distance of 5.66 meters (18-07.00 feet), a quarter-inch shy of her personal best.  Middlebrook improved both in distance and place over last week’s fifth-place, 5.46 meter (17-11.00 feet) finish in the long jump.

Middlebrook was also the Bears’ top finisher in the 200-meter dash.  She placed ninth with a time of 27.42 seconds.  Mareneika Goffe was the only other Bear to reach the finals, finishing 20th with a time of 28.57 seconds.

Mari-Jean Vance led the Bears with a third-place finish in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 11:04.23.  It was Vance’s first indoor competition at the collegiate level.  Freshmen Lacie Sparlin and Angie Chase finished ninth and 13th, respectively.

Sofie Blount continued to lead the throwers.  Blount placed 11th in the weight throw with a distance of 13.22 meters (43-04.50 feet ) , a personal best by more than three feet over last week’s throw of 12.27 meters (40-03.25 feet).  Jel ni Kelly placed 15th in the weight throw.

Missouri State will compete in a number of events in day two of the Fazoli’s/Baymont Inn Missouri Southern Open Invitational.  Tomorrow events begin at 10:30 a.m. inside the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, Mo.