INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Four months removed from a women's national championship in indoor track and field, Indiana Tech opened up their outdoor season on Friday under overcast skies at Marian University in Indianapolis. Despite some breezy conditions, several runners collected NAIA standards while the throwers saw a few names added to the all-time top ten list.
Deanara Mbouge made quite a debut in her first collegiate outdoor meet. In her first hammer throw competition, the Ohio native threw 44.44m to move to #2 on the all-time list. It was also a freshman school record and leaves her less than four meters behind the school record holder, Te'Reia Mackey. Mbouge also threw 36.60m in the discus to go #7 on Tech's top ten.
Hayley Thompson also shined in her Indiana Tech debut, throwing 12.15m in the shot put to go to #4 on the all-time list.
The meet started with some fine performances on the track by both the men's and women's 4x100 relay teams, who picked up NAIA "A" standards.
NAIA standards also went to
Esau Haynes (NAIA "A", 10.50) and
Michael Warner (NAIA "B"), 10.54) in the 100m.
Additional highlights:
- In his first outdoor meet, Mason Murphy jumps to #4 on the all-time Indiana Tech list in the hammer throw at 46.70m (153'2").
- Tech went 1-2-4 in the high jump: Shomari Somerville 1.93m (6'4"), Tayvahr Wright 1.88m (6'2"), Jaelan Stewart 1.88m (6'2").
- Noah Kelsey lead Tech in the 800m in 2:00.95. Dylan Banda was just behind in 2:02.54.
- Miles Gray (48.70), Braden Crosby (48.83), and Eric Pullum (49.22) go 1-2-4 in the 400m.
- LaTarsha Moore makes a big move on the all-time list, jumping to a tie for 4th in the hammer throw in 40.70m.
- Hayley Thompson and Gracie Clute were just behind Moore at 40.66m and 40.65m
- Jo'Deci Irby is just off the standard in the 400m, but opens in a very solid 57.41. Junae Bennett (58.52), Kennia Dexter (59.19), and Kayla Moody (59.62) are also under 60.
- Jamaya Warthen leads a 1-2-3-4 Tech finish in the 100m. The first heat had to re-run their race after a timing malfunction. Warthen 12.08, Kiya Pogue 12.14, Katlyn Jones 12.39, Taylor Kyle 12.46.
The squad will split up next week with some at the Tennessee Invitational in Knoxville while others stay in Fort Wayne to compete in a small home meet.
