NORMAL, Ill. -- The Track and Field Bears looked sharp in their second to last tune-up for the MVC Outdoor Championships, as they tallied four event wins and 15 top-five finishes at the Redbird Spring Invitational.
The Bears received wins from Kimsue Grant in the long jump (18-02.50) and triple jump (40-09.50), Shantel Llewellyn in the 100-meter dash (12.20) and Rashida Allen in the 100-meter hurdles (14.46), who also finished second in the 200-meter dash (25.27). The trio later combined with freshman Ariel Butzine (Lake Villa, Ill.) to place second in the 4x400-meter relay (4:01.63).
Grant's first two career wins continue a strong freshman season for the Arlington, Va., native. After capping the indoor season with All-MVC recognition in the triple jump, Grant has totaled six top-five finishes this spring. In addition to earning the wins in Normal, she also earned a place in Bear history as her triple jump mark is now the fifth-longest jump ever at Missouri State.
Junior Shantel Llewellyn is another Bear enjoying a hot streak, but unlike Grant's field conquests, the Ajax, Ontario native is doing her damage on the track. She has yet to finish lower than seventh through six individual events this outdoor season and now has the fastest 100-and 200-meter dash times of any Bear.
The distance group combined for four top-fives with a pair of back-to-back finishes. Stephanie Harres (Jr., Columbia, Ill.) and Emily Beaver (Fr., Diamond, Mo.) finished 2-3 in the 5,000-meter run at 17:57.51 and 18:04.07, respectively. Nicole Thate (Fr., Darien, Ill.) and Butzine took home third and fourth in the 800-meter, running in 2:16.00 and 2:16.01.
Grant's fellow freshman jumpers were nearly as impressive. Cheyenne Stewart (Christ Church, Barbados) earned third-place finishes in the high jump (5-05.00) and long jump (18-02.25), while Jordan Bond, competing in her hometown, had a 37-05.00 triple jump and placed second behind Grant.
Jeláni Kelly notched a personal best, and a fourth-place finish, in the shot put after she threw 44-07.50.
Next weekend the Bears compete in Fayetteville, Ark., for the second time this outdoor season. The Arkansas Twilight Friday, April 30, will be MSU's last meet before the MVC Outdoor Championships in Normal, Ill., May 14-16.
