SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State track and field team continues the 2016 slate at the Gorilla Classic on the campus of Pittsburg State University. On Friday, the field events are tentatively scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with the weight throw opening the day, while the running events are scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m. beginning with the 60-meter hurdles qualifying race. The event is $5 per person, while children 12 and under and college students with a valid student ID are free.

Keeping Track of the Bears

• The Bears will return to the Plaster Center for the second time this season on the campus of Pittsburg State University for the 1^st Annual Gorilla Classic. Sprinters Marissa Kurtimah and Shavonne Husbands tallied first-place finishes and facility records in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, respectively, in MSU's last showing (Jan. 29).
• The 4x400-meter relay team composed of Shani Adams, Kadisha Francois, Erin Roebuck, and Holly Pattie-Belleli clocked in a season-best 3:45.06 for the Bears last week at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational. This relay time ranks second in the Valley this season behind Illinois State.
• MSU has two weeks until the 2016 MVC Indoor Track and Field Championships at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The championships will be February 27 to February 28. The Bears were projected as fourth-best in the MVC in a preseason poll done by league coaches.
• The Bears will primarily focus on distance and field events at the Gorilla Classic to prepare for the indoor championships. A total of 17 student-athletes are expected to compete in 12 events for MSU in the two-day meet.
• Two student-athletes - Olivia Ott and Kelli Bowen - are the only two that are competing in sprints for MSU, the 60-meter hurdles qualifying race on Friday. The top-16 in this event will advance to Saturday's semifinals and finals.
• The largest event for MSU on Friday will be the weight throw, with Jillian Bertz, Mirissa Massey, Brittany McPike, and Melanie Raterman battling in a field of 41 throwers.
• Freshman Alyson Jones will compete in the 5,000-meter run for MSU at the Gorilla Classic. This will be the first time a Bear has attempted this event this season.
• Selena Buckner will get an opportunity to improve once again in the 800-meter run. Buckner knocked nearly five seconds off her previous personal best time in the event at the Pittsburg State Invitational (Jan. 29), crossing the finish line in a time of 2:28.57.
• On Saturday, the largest showing for the Bears will come in the one-mile run - Tenaly Smith, Cindy Forde, Jade Raynor, and Savannah Beaver. All four student-athletes have competed in this event at least once this season.
• The Bears will look to improve in the distance medley relay at the Gorilla Classic this weekend. This will be the third time that MSU has competed in this event and the first time that the quartet of Cindy Forde, Jade Raynor, Tenaly Smith, and Selena Buckner will try the event.

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