Meet Results (PDF)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Against a competitive field at the Arkansas Qualifier, the Missouri State track and field team wrapped up its indoor regular season here Friday evening, with several Bears recording lifetime bests.
"We had a really good day overall with several season and lifetime bests," said head coach Jordan Fife. "It's always a thrill to compete at Arkansas and see the competitiveness rise from the athletes. We needed a meet like this to be ready for conference next weekend."
In the 400-meter run, all three of MSU's entries earned lifetime or season bests with Manuela Ngo Tonye Nyemeck leading the way and clocking a time of 59.07 seconds. The time was good for a 24th-place finish for the senior sprinter, marking her best time of the 2022-23 season. Behind her, Meghan Halstead and Victory Ifah clocked personal bests of 59.27 and 59.32 to finish in 26th and 28th place, respectively.
Representing the Bears' sprinting efforts, Calandra Henry and Felicity Watkins competed in the 60-meter dash against competitors from USC, Arkansas, Ohio State and Washington State. Henry's time of 7.53 seconds was good for a 14th-place finish while Watkins finished in 19th place with a time of 7.96.
In the 200-meter dash, Charity Obazughanmwen continued the Bears' theme of personal bests, recording one of her own to lead MSU in the event. The sophomore sprinter's time of 24.89 seconds landed her in 10th place. Watkins and Hayden Gray also raced in the 200m, with the former recording a lifetime best of 25.44.
Edna Dar and Ashley Rolewicz also had season highlights in the 800-meter run on Friday afternoon, with Dar turning out a season-best time of 2:11.66 to place in the top-15 in 14th place. Rolewicz raced a lifetime best for the Bears, as the senior clocked a time of 2:15.24, down from her former personal best of 2:16.70.
Also, on the distance side of things, Margo Nea turned out a one-mile time of 5:16.54, shaving two full seconds off her former personal best (5:18.86) raced earlier this season.
DaeLin Switzer, Rachel Lacey and Kate Anderson competed in the 60-meter hurdles at the qualifier for the Bears, finishing with times of 9.08, 9.47 and 9.68, respectively. Lacey's time was a personal best.
Leading the Bears' field efforts, Brooke Jenkins finished in seventh place in the long jump, recording a distance of 5.50 meters, while Lacey jumped to a mark of 5.25 meters. Lacey also competed in shot put, finishing the event in eighth place with a personal best, 9.42-meter throw.
To end the day, a 4x400-meter relay team made up of Obazughanmwen, Henry, Dar and Tamera Rhode finished fourth with a time of 3:47.89. Oklahoma State won the event with a time of 3:42.04.
The Bears' indoor efforts will culminate next weekend at the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships. The championships will be held on Feb. 26-27 at Gately Park in Chicago for the second-straight year.
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