Six National Leads and Two School Records Fall in Historic Weekend

Six National Leads and Two School Records Fall in Historic Weekend
March 31, 2025
The Reivers were back in action this week sending a split squad to the Texas State Bobcat Invitational and the Wash U Distance Carnival.
 
At the Wash U Distance Carnival, Elizabeth Ewusie broke the school record in the Women's 3000m steeplechase. She ran 10:50.88 to take the national lead and finish 8th place. Geofrey Ronoh also broke the school record in the Men's 3000m steeplechase in 8:56.76 to set the national record at the time. Flynn Pumpa also hit a national qualifier in 9:06.83 for a personal best. Pierre Carlier set a personal best in 1:50.73 followed by Ali Benzem in 1:51.55 also a personal best. Both hit national qualifying marks and moved to #4 and #6 in school history.
 
Michael Francois won the 400m at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational in meet-record fashion. Francois sped around the track in 45.73 to set the national lead and #2 mark in school history. Reivers swept the triple jump with Mercy Honesty in the Women's triple jump with a 13.35m national lead and school record. Honesty's mark is also the #6 mark in NJCAA history. Lebon Attoungbre won the Men's triple jump in 16.34m for the #2 mark in school history. OT Omot was 7th in 14.98m, and Abagotte Opiew was 8th in 14.97m.
Jesse Malone hit a national qualifier in the 110 hurdles 14.48 to finish 2nd in the B Section good for #9 in program history. Charmar Smith also hit a qualifier in the 400 hurdles with a 54.16 the #7 time in program history. Tanique Taylor ran a pr in qualifying for nationals in 1:04.92.
 
Yekini Bowen finished 2nd place in the Men's Discus A section in a national qualifying 54.95m. Koen Zandvilet was 7th in a season-best 46.05m. Gabriel Ortiz threw 65.74m to win the Men's javelin A section for a collegiate pr and the #1 throw in the nation at the time.
"This was a solid opener for a lot of people coming off of the momentum from the indoor national meet. Ortiz was impressive coming off of his showing at our home meet, he continues to improve. The steeplechasers did great and I am excited to see what they do. Both marks would have won last year's national meet. Honesty, Attoungbre, Francois had very strong openers." said Head Coach David Burnett.
 
Next up is the Concordia Invite in Seward, Nebraska April 5-6.