PITTSBURG, KS. – McMurry University's first 2022-23 appearance on the track met with impressive results Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10 and 11.
The underclassman men's and women's sprinting tandem of sophomore
Griffin Gayler (Burleson, Texas) and freshman
Madelyn Gollihar (Clyde, Texas) set new school marks in their respective 300-meter runs during the Pittsburg State University Crimson and Gold Invitational. Battling against a largely NCAA Division I and II field, Gayler clocked a 35.38 to place among the first 20 of a 70-plus runner field. Gollihar crossed in 43.77, good for 37
th of 69. Junior
Najwa Campbell (Conroe, Texas) also knocked down the previous school mark, taking 38
th in 43.96.
Those efforts only scratched the surface of what head coach Cody Knight's teams accomplished. The men's 4x400 quartet of Gayler, senior
Ethan Ramirez (Palmer, Texas), senior
Justin DeLeon (Abilene, Texas), and junior
Tripp Collins (Port Aransas, Texas) placed fifth in 3:21.31 which ranks seventh nationally and first in the West Region at this early stage of the season. Sophomore
Shepherd Miller was just off the school-record pace in the heptathlon, posting 4350 points. His total is the 12
th highest nationally and first regionally. Sophomore
Jayden Gonzales' 15-foot, three-inch clearance in the pole vault was the team's best and landed him among the best 15 in the country and first in the region.
For the women, the 4x400 meter relay squad of freshman
Brynn Yanez (Jayton, Texas), sophomore
Jacee Dinkins (Azle, Texas), Campbell, and Gollihar hit the line in 4:13.53, suitable for the fastest time in the region. Senior throws standout
Ellie Ryan (Early, Texas) launched the 20-pound weight 48 feet, two inches, also good for the top mark regionally. Both events landed among the best 40 nationally, with the 4x400 sitting 22
nd and Ryan standing 37
th in the weight toss.
McMurry breaks from competition until after the start of the new year. They are back in action on January 21 for the Washburn University of Kansas Rust Buster.
