MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's and women's indoor track and field hosted the Bearson/Gathje Classic Friday afternoon at Myers Field House and welcomed competition from Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul. The Mavericks set meet records in women's weight throw and women's high jump. On the men's team, meet records fell in 60 meter hurdles, 400 meters, 1000 meters, shot put and triple jump.

"Our coaching staff looks forward each year to getting our team back into competition after the holiday break," said head coach Mike Turgeon. "We brought the team back last week and have just under two weeks of training completed. It's always special to compete at a meet named in honor of Lori Bearson and Donna Gathje, the pioneers of women's track and field at Minnesota State. We're excited to compete next week at the University of Iowa before returning home for the Mark Schuck Open & Multi at the end of the month. Our staff is energized by what we believe this team can become as championship season approaches."
 
WOMEN'S TRACK EVENTS
Junior Madison Hubbard hit a qualifying mark to win the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.67. Ashley Overgaauw won the mile run with a time of 5:08.63.
 
Continuing the trend from last season, the Mavericks posted impressive 60 meter hurdle times. Junior Esaba Okwaramoi crossed the line first with a time of 8.48. Senior Ashanti Harvey was second in 8.49 and freshman Jordin McGee posted a time of 8.51, good for the eighth quickest in Division II this season.
 
Senior Grace Obour won the 200 meter event with a time of 25.18 and Paige Larsen had the top time in a seven-athlete field in 800 meters with her time of 2:21.80.
 
WOMEN'S FIELD EVENTS
Freshman Dorcus Opoku took first in long jump with a mark of 6.02m (19-9.00). It was fifth best in Division II and 43^rd in NCAA all-divisions this winter. Aubri Brown set a new meet record in weight throw when her implement landed at 19.69m (64-7.25). Brown headlined shot put as well with her first place toss of 12.59m (41-3.75).
 
Rainna Jameson also set a meet record in high jump with a mark of 1.68m (5-6.00). The mark was also 18^th in Division II.
 
Harvey competed and won the triple jump with a personal record 12.20m (40-00.50), fifth best in Division II this season. Senior Lillian Washington was second in the same event at 12.18m (39-11.50), seventh in Division II.
 
MEN'S TRACK EVENTS
Sophomore Kenjuan Hampton posted a qualifying time of 6.87 for first place in 60 meter dash prelims. He ran to first in the finals with a time of 6.86. Rinaldo Moore led the field in 60 meter hurdles with a meet record time of 7.98, seventh best in Division II this season. Qai Hussey won the 200 meters with a time of 22.15.
 
Del Johnson Jr. (Concordia-St. Paul) and Tyreese James (Minnesota State) surpassed the meet record for first and second, respectively, in the 400 meters. James ran a time of 49.40.
 
Two Mavericks topped the meet record in 1000 meter run. Lins ran the distance in 2:30.95 and Larsen crossed in 2:32.86. Erek Ross hit a personal record and finished first in 3000 meters with a time of 8:49.64.
 
MEN'S FIELD EVENTS
Freshman Hugo Albanese took first in high jump after topping out at 1.91m (6-3.25) for the Mavericks. Terrance Thomas posted the sixth-best mark in the long jump in Division II to finish first at 7.36m (24-1.75).
 
Hayden Bills and Dylan Gross took home meet records in shot put. Bills was first at 18.63m (61-1.50) and Gross took second (16.96m, 55-7.75). A meet record also fell to Sheldon McNicholas in triple jump. He landed at 15.38m (50-5.50), second best in Division II.
 
Sophomore Jackson McNulty finished off the day with a first place, personal best mark of 18.35m (60-2.50) in weight throw.
 
Minnesota State men's and women's indoor track and field continues its schedule on January 23-24 at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational (Iowa City, Iowa) at the Iowa Indoor Track Building.