CEDAR CITY, Utah– The Southern Utah University track and field program closed a busy weekend at Husky Classic and Whitworth Invitational Saturday night. Several Thunderbirds earned new personal records or won their respective event. Joren McKeever and Ajia Hughes highlighted the Thunderbirds weekend by picking up dominant wins in their events.
Husky Classic
McKeever fueled the Thunderbird's charge in the men's high jump. McKeever catapulted to an enormous jump of 7'½" to win the event and improve on his second-place all-time SUU ranking in the event. This performance also ranks Mckeever 20th in the nation and first in the WAC in the event.
On the women's side, Hughes battled to a first-place finish in the high jump. After matching two other jumpers for the top score, Hughes went to a jump-off and won the event with a leap of 5'7".
Madisan DeBos and Haley Tanne picked up stellar personal records in the 3000 meters. Tanne blistered to a time of 9:34.37 to move into fifth all-time in the SUU records books, while DeBos finished right behind with a 9:37.42, making her sixth all-time for the Thunderbirds.
Southern Utah also had impressive performances in the 3000 Meters. Santiago Gaitan ran to a time of 8:08.14 to take 38th place, and Travis Feeny finished in 55th place with an 8:15.87.
Whitworth Invitational
SUU snatched the top two spots in the long jump at the Whitworth Invitational. Christopher Kappen led things off for the Thunderbirds by winning the long jump with a leap of 23'9½", moving him into third all-time in the event for SUU. Astley Davis continued his successful indoor season with a jump of 23' 5 ½" to take second place.
Dominick Vasquez just missed out on his first event win of the season in the weight throw, taking second place with a rocket throw of 54'8 ¾". This performance also moves him into fifth place all-time in the Thunderbird record books.
Junior Jarom Smith grabbed his first event win this season in the high jump by clearing a height of 6' 7 ½".
The Thunderbirds had several sprinters compile new personal records or event wins. Jaedyn carpenter blazed to a first-place time in the 400 Meters with a personal record time of 48.25, pushing him into seventh all-time for SUU.
After inking his name into the Thunderbird record books earlier this season in the 60 meters, Cameron Beans clawed his way to tenth all-time for SUU in the 200 meters with a personal best time of 21.73.
Ricardo White jetted to a new personal best in the 60 meters with a time of 6.87 to take second place overall. This performance now secures eighth all-time for Southern Utah.
Jarom Smith won the high jump for the first time this season with a jump of 6'7 1/2".
SUU's women secured four new personal records in the 200-meter dash. Secret Mceuen cruised to a time of 24.76 to take second place and move into second all-time for SUU. Iana-Michovani Graham finished close behind Mceuen in sixth place with a new personal record time of 25.26. Savannah Nielson ran to a new personal best time of 25.79 to finish in 12th place and Ronnie Walker rounded things out for SUU in 13th place with a 25.83.
Jentry Skidmore won the long jump with a solid leap of 18 3 ¾", outjumping all of his other competitors by nearly a foot.
Freshman Adysen Pace ran new a collegiate personal best in the 400 meters with a time of 58.92 to take eighth place.
Ariana Baker nearly cracked the top three in the pole vault, taking fourth place by clearing a height of 11' ¾".
Up Next
Southern Utah will now have nearly two weeks off before they compete in the WAC Championships in Spokane, Wash on Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb 25.
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