Jan. 12, 2013
Complete Results
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Missouri State track & field squad wrapped up competition at the Saluki Open on Saturday (Jan. 12) with a handful of victories and personal-best performances.
"They came back and performed very well today as a group," said Ronald Boyce, director of track & field and cross country. "Other than that, we performed better than we usually do this time of year, so that's the most exciting part.
"All-in-all, it was a really good meet."
Sophomores Althia Maximilien and Gabriella Ade-Onojobi posted impressive times at the SIU Student Recreation Center. Maximilien won the 200-meter dash finals in her first solo event of the year. The native of Bridgetown, Barbados crossed the finish line in 24.92 seconds, about half a second off her personal best.
Meanwhile, Ade-Onojobi claimed the crown in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles (8.76) after placing second in the preliminary round.
Fellow sprinter Cindy Forde, a freshman, finished the 800-meter run in 2:23.95, a new personal best. Forde improved upon the mark of 2:25.54 she set last month at the Arkansas State Kickoff Klassic.
Junior Pernell Joseph dominated the 60-meter dash with victories in both the preliminaries (7.54) and finals (7.56). Kimsue Grant, a senior from Arlington, Va., posted a career-best time of 7.76 seconds in the 60-meter dash prelims. Grant went on to finish sixth in the finals with a time of 7.83 seconds.
Ade-Onojobi (7.89) and freshman Shavonne Husbands (7.82) also gathered personal-best times in the 60-meter dash.
After Grant set the tone for Missouri State's jumpers with a triple jump victory on Friday, senior Jordan Bond notched another impressive performance in the high jump. Bond placed second in the event with a leap of 1.63 meters (5 feet, 4.25 inches).
Missouri State's student-athletes also worked well in a team event, as the 4x400-meter relay squad of Oarabile Babolayi, Shavonne Husbands, Grant and Maximilien won their event in 3:49.70.
The Bears will resume their season on Jan. 18 at the Missouri Invitational in Columbia, Mo. The event is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
