WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Indoor Track & Field Falcons were in action again this past weekend at the Heskett Center on the campus of Wichita State University, where they competed in the Wilson Invitational.
Highlighting the results was Austin Hoyt producing the top mark in the KCAC this season with a third-place finish in the Men's Pole Vault. Hoyt's mark of 4.45m came just short of hitting the NAIA national standard.
Abby Green also came close to achieving a national standard with a fourth-place showing in the Women's Weight Throw before hitting a season-best 10.72m in the Shot Put.
Anya Walton (10.98m) also recorded a season-high result with a fourth-place finish in the Women's Triple Jump.
The team of Moriah Shaw, Halle Nagel, Gema del Valle and Kaylah Petty then came in third in the Women's 4 X 400 relay with a time of 4:12.84.
Additional top-five results for the Falcons were Antonina Jackowiak (third, Women's Mile, 3:06.46), Caitlin O'Cuinneagain (third, Women's 3000 Meters, 11:29.65), Carter Gittinger (fourth, Men's Heptathlon, 4320 points) and Julian Winters (fifth, Men's Weight Throw, 15.32m).
The Falcons are next in action at the Washburn Open & Multis on Feb. 2-3 in Topeka, Kan.
Friends track & field head coach Henry Brun on the Falcons' performances at the Wilson Invitational
"This weekend was focused on getting some improvements on marks in preparation for the KCAC Championships in two weeks. There were some huge moments this weekend that helped us move the needle closer to title contention. Our throws are coming into form and it is showing. They have a big meet with nearly every thrower hitting a new personal best and moving up the conference performance list. Our pole vault group continues their steady trend upward and a couple of our horizontal jumpers are starting to piece it together on the runway. We had a handful of sprinters competing to improve their marks for better heat positioning at the KCAC meet and they stepped up to the challenge. Our distance group is making big strides in dropping time every time they step on the track and they look to be in the conversation to be fighting for points at the KCAC meet as well.
I like how things are coming together for the team, in all areas. This weekend we will head to Washburn with only a handful who are chasing some national qualifying marks as our final competition before the KCAC meet. I am excited to see how we cap off this indoor season."
