Reivers Break Records at Alsup Open
MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Reivers had a historic showing at the Northwest Missouri State Coach Allsup Open. The Men were led by freshman Geoffry Ronah who won the 5000m in the 2nd fastest all time, all conditions mark in NJCAA history. In the process, Ronah broke the Hughes Fieldhouse, meet, and school record. He finished more than a minute faster than the next competitor.
Denzs Simmonds broke the school record in the shot put posting the 23rd best shot put toss in NJCAA history. Simmonds tossed 17.55m to move to #2 in the NJCAA this season.
Michael Francois completed the trifecta for the final school record for the Reivers on the weekend in the 600-yard run. Francois ran 1:09.70, the 6th fastest time in NJCAA history, and moved to #2 in the NJCAA. This was also a Grenada national best.
Another strong showing by the men was Cory Vaughan Jr. who won the triple jump in 14.29m to open the season #8 in school history. Cain Brown jumped 2.04m to finish 6th and move to #2 in the NJCAA and #8 in school history. Yekini Bowen threw 17.37m to finish 3rd in the weight throw and improve his #2 ranking in the NJCAA. Bowen also finished 4th in the shot put in 16.89m.
Wallace Aflamah finished 2nd in the 60m dash in 6.78 the #8 mark in NJCAA and a tie for 2nd in school history. Mo Kowa had a busy day winning the 1000m in 2:27.35 #5 in the NJCAA and 4th in the 800m in 1:53.83 #5 in the NJCAA. Flynn Pumpa also had a strong showing in the 1000m running 2:28.33 to qualify for nationals and post the #6 time in the NJCAA. In the 3000m, Barnibas Ndiwa ran 8:23.81 to finish 2nd and post the #5 mark in the NJCAA and #4 in school history. Victor Kemboi also qualified for nationals in 8:31.49 to finish 6th overall and #7 in school history. Flynn Pumpa ran an 8:32.89 to finish 7th and also qualify for nationals.
On the Women's side, Calleisha Chance led the way winning the high jump in 1.70m to tie her personal best. Her mark is 3rd nationally. She also set a personal best in the 60m hurdles running 8.88 to finish 3rd and is tied for 4th nationally. Tanique Taylor finished 4th in the women's hurdles in 8.88 and is tied with Chance for 4th nationally.
Judith Koumidzina set the Togo national best mark in the 60m dash. She sprinted to 7.56 which is 4th nationally and 6th in school history. Kaylia Kelly ran 24.69 to finish 2nd followed by Ethel Amissah in 24.86 in 3rd place.
Angeline Estrada finished 2nd in the 1000m running 3:07.68. Sien Van Vuvren finished 4th in 3:09.89 qualifying for nationals 5th and 8th respectively.
Mercy Honesty led a 1-2-3 finish of national qualifiers in the women's triple jump winning the event in a nation-leading 11.81m. Jayla Brown was 2nd in 11.79m and Sakina Umar was 3rd in 11.47m. Umar also won the long jump and qualified for nationals with a 5.54m
Sarai Simpson finished 2nd in the shot put leading another trifecta of national qualifiers with a 13.92m toss. She is currently ranked 3rd nationally and in school history. Chin-Loy Raymond threw 13.74m to finish 4th to qualify for nationals in her first college meet. Natalie Albert finished 9th in 12.54m to round out the qualifiers.
The women's 4x4 rounded out the evening winning the event in a national qualifying 3:51.77 to post the 5th-best mark in school history. The foursome of Amissah, Mitchell, Kelly, and Okon put the exclamation point on a fantastic meet.
Next up is the University of Iowa Black and Gold Invitational on January 26 and 27. The Throws competition will be held on Friday followed by the rest of the competition on Saturday.