BOLIVAR, Mo. – Missouri State track and field opened the 2025 outdoor season with a dominant 217-point win at the Bearcat Invitational hosted by Southwest Baptist.
 
The Bears earned their win with 113 more points than second place SBU. Central Missouri rounded out the podium with 90 points in third place. Reigning DII outdoor track and field national champions Pittsburg State finished in fourth with 76 points.
 
On the final day of competition, the Bears won four events. In three of those events, the Bears swept their competition. Sophomore Ella Cronhardt opened the day with a win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:03.41. Senior Mary Margaret Harris was right behind her with a 11:04.36 to secure the second-place finish.
 
Alex Adams earned her first win as a Bear in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.44. The other four Bears in the event, Seleena Morris, Victory Ifah, Raegan Foster and Katie Griffin, finished in the second, third, fourth and fifth-place spots with Griffin earning a personal best.
 
Meghan Halstead set a personal record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.83 for an event win. Mirabella Redman took second with a time of 1:05.39 and Cheria Galbreath took third with a time of 1:05.72.
 
Freshman Maliya Clark earned her first event win of her collegiate career with an 11.96-meter attempt in the triple jump, .20 meters further than the second place finisher.

"We couldn't have asked for a better opener," head coach Jordan Fife said. "The team responded well to the great weather and the energy was high all around. It was nice to come away with so many first-place finishes and lifetime bests at an opening meet."
 
The Bears return home next weekend for the Springfield Showdown. The meet will kick off on Friday afternoon with the hammer throw and discus at 2:00 p.m. then continue Saturday with the javelin and shot put at 10:00 a.m. All throwing events will take place at Parkview High School. Track and jumping events will take place at Allison South Stadium on Saturday with a senior recognition at noon. Admission is free.
   
Team Results
1. Missouri State – 217 pts.
2. Southwest Baptist – 104 pts.
3. Central Missouri – 90 pts.
4. Pittsburg State – 76 pts.
5. Maryville – 72 pts.
6. Evangel – 51.50 pts.
7. Missouri S&T – 49 pts.
8. Missouri Southern – 44.50 pts.
9. Drury – 33 pts.
10. College of the Ozarks – 12 pts.
11. John Brown – 7 pts.
12. State Fair – 6 pts.
13. Cottey – 5 pts.
 
Individual Results
100-Meter Dash
2. Olivia Rogers – 11.72 – PR
3. Kayleigh Jenkins – 11.74 – PR
7. Rakiya Lang – 12.04
8. Barrett Jackson – 12.14
11. Brianna Howard – 12.24
18. Whitney Farrington – 12.37 – PR
22. Alyssa Ball – 12.50
 
200-Meter Dash
7. BreAna Garrett – 24.64
9. Rakiya Lang – 25.14
17. Brianna Howard – 25.90
22. DaeLin Switzer – 26.92
 
400-Meter Dash
1. Alex Adams – 56.44
2. Seleena Morris – 57.40
3. Victory Ifah – 58.88
4. Raegan Foster – 59.17
5. Katie Griffin – 59.38 – PR
 
800-Meter Run
3. Faith Fotiades – 2:21.88
14. Kaitlyn Hatley – 2:40.67
 
1500-Meter Run
3. Faith Fotiades – 4:47.46
10. Kylie Ghormley – 5:09.10 – PR
11. Kaitlyn Hatley – 5:13.55
 
4x100-Meter Relay
3. Kayleigh Jenkins, Olivia Rogers, Brianna Howard, Rakiya Lang – 47.22
 
4x400-Meter Relay
2. Whitney Farrington, Meghan Halstead, Alex Adams, BreAna Garrett – 3:47.43
3. Olivia Rogers, Seleena Morris, Keyleigh Jenkins, Victory Ifah – 3:50.92
4. Barrett Jackson, Raegan Foster, Katie Griffin, Ella Cronhardt – 3:56.85
 
100-Meter Hurdles
5. DaeLin Switzer – 15.22
9. Cheria Galbreath – 15.75
21. Mirabella Redman – 18.11
 
400-Meter Hurdles
1. Meghan Halstead – 1:00.83 – PR
2. Mirabella Redman – 1:05.39
3. Cheria Galbreath – 1:05.72
 
3000-Meter Steeplechase
1. Ella Cronhardt – 11:03.41
2. Mary Margaret Harris – 11:04.36
 
High Jump
2. Kayleigh Jenkins – 1.69m – PR
5. Maggie Haase – 1.54m
6. DaeLin Switzer – 1.54m
 
Long Jump
2. Maliya Clark – 5.69m
4. Jenna Belcher – 5.52m
16. Mirabella Redman – 5.04m
19. Kambree Gibson – 4.88m
23. Caden Van Hauen – 4.77m
 
Triple Jump
1. Maliya Clark – 11.96m
5. Jenna Belcher – 11.13m
6. Kambree Gibson – 11.01m – PR
8. Maggie Haase – 10.85m – PR
9. Caden Van Hauen – 10.45m
 
Javelin
7. Brooklynn O'Cain – 43.60
8. Jaide Rose – 42.16
10. Reagan Reedy – 41.76
 
Pole Vault
10. Jordan Drum – 3.35m