LINCOLN, Neb. – SIUE men's and women's track and field opened the 2024 calendar year with the Nebraska Graduate Classic at the Bob Devaney Sports Complex. Several athletes finished in the top five and set new career best marks in their respective events.

Throws

Senior Alexis Hutchins led SIUE in the women's weight throw, posting a fifth-place finish at 17.66m. Allison Saunders grabbed 11th in the event at 15.04m. Hutchins also led the women in the shot put with a 12.76m toss, good for ninth overall.

On the men's side, Grant Milbrath marked a 14.41m toss, good for ninth overall. The freshman also led SIUE in the men's weight throw with a 17.80m mark for seventh place. Joel Degraca placed 10th at 13.91m.

Jumps

In the women's long jump, junior Folasade Oladipupo took sixth overall at 5.45m. Freshman Cassidy Short earned eighth with a 5.37m leap while Dakota Krone (5.05m) and Sheena Cumberbatch (4.95m) finished back-to-back at 12th and 13th.

Zaria Searcy, Jada Fryer, and Harper Smith took all finished with a 1.55m leap in the women's high jump. Harper Smith also competed, posting a 1.50m jump. In the women's triple jump, Cumberbatch led the Cougars with a fifth-place finish at 11.20m. Krone took fifth at 10.63m while Nyah Williams posted a 10.60m mark for sixth.

Drew Tucker competed in the men's high jump, collecting eighth with a 1.85m leap.

Sprints and Hurdles

Sophomore Kaylee Allen collected seventh in the women's 60m dash finals with an 8.02 mark. Allen also led SIUE in the 200m dash with a 26.03 time while Oladipupo took ninth at 26.97. Mia Jackson earned fourth in the women's 60m hurdle finale at 9.14.  

In the women's 400m, freshman Makayla White crossed the finish line at 1:02.23, good for ninth place. Sophomore Alise Simon also competed in the event, finishing 11th at 1:08.27.

On the men's side of the 60m, Tyler Bell led the men in the preliminary round with a 10th place finish at 6.98. Konnor Bouman took 18th at 7.28. Bell also led SIUE in the men's 200m dash, posting a 22.91 mark for fifth overall. Bouman also competed in the event, placing seventh at 23.29.

Konrad Sacha led the Cougars in the men's 400m dash, crossing the finish line at 51.55. Chase Burton (6th/51.56), Simon McLaine (15th, 53.74), and Jonah Grawer (17th/53.93) also competed in the 400m on the men's side.

Junior Taylor Lehman set a PR during the men's 60m hurdle preliminary rounds with an 8.55 time. He finished eighth in the 60m hurdle finals at 8.64.

Mid-Distance and Distance

Courtney Anthonies led the women in the 800m with a 2:37.22 time, good for fifth place. The sophomore's time also was good for a PR. Megan Derrick also competed in the event, placing sixth at 2:38.05.

Gabrielle Horton collected fifth in the women's 1,000m with a 3:15.46 time, good for a career best time. In the women's mile race, Lexi Kampwerth crossed the finish line at 5:56.15 for 13th overall.

Six women competed in the 3,000m race, led by junior Kaitlyn Walker's 10:48.26 mark for 10th place. Mia Loafman (12th/11:03.92), Alexis Fischer (17th/11:18.50), Riley Doyle (18th/11:19.53), Chessy Nikonowicz (19th/11:28.10), and Natalia Rodriguez (25th/11:55.37) also competed in the event.

Sophomore D'Andre Watson placed eighth in the men's 800m with a 2:02.25 mark for ninth and set a PR in the mile at 4:33.22, good for 16th. Cullen Krieg also ran in the mile, posting a 4:45.78 mark for 19th.

In the men's 3,000m, senior Roland Prenzler led SIUE with an 8:41.82 time for sixth overall. Zach Walters earned seventh at 8:48.29 while Spencer Hielkema (13th/8:57.49), Tyler Guthrie (17th/9:12.52), and Blake Panagos (21st/9:46.69) also competed in the event.

Relays

The women's 4x400m relay team of Kailah Carter, Gabrielle Horton, Makayla White, and Kaylee Allen placed third with a 4:08.90 time.

The men's relay squad of Chase Burston, Simon McLaine, Taylor Lehman, and Konrad Sacha took fifth in the 4x400m with a 3:36.73 mark. The other 4x400m men's squad, consisting of Cole Knapp, Jonah Grawer, Konnor Bouman, and Tyler Bell, finished sixth at 3:37.73.

Up Next

SIUE track and field travels to Indianapolis, Indiana for the Butler Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Stay connected with the Cougars all season long by following @SIUETrackandField on Instagram and @SIUETrackField on X.