Missouri State University

The Missouri State track and field team made a statement at the second day of the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.  Leander Ernest and Asher Kyger set records while a number of others set personal bests. 

Junior Leander Ernest attained the NCAA Provisional time in the 800-meter run championship with a time of 2:07.16, setting the school record in the process.  Her time also set the St. Lucia National Indoor record for the event.  On top of that, Ernest finished second, one one-hundredth of a second behind Trisa Nickoley.

Senior Asher Kyger ran the mile championship in a time of 4:48.86, setting the school record by more than three seconds.  The previous record was held by Casey Owens at 4:52.43, set in 2005.  Kyger’s time was a mere .86 seconds shy of the NCAA Provisional time.  Teammates Pasca Cheruiyot and Terry Phillips finished 10th and 11th, respectively in the mile championship.  Staci Nelson placed second in the mile open.

Jamie Vest placed seventh in the 3,000-meter run championship with a time of 10:14.15.  Andrea Marshall and Stephanie Harres ran the 3,000-meter run open, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.  Both Marshall and Harres ran personal bests in the event.

Alexandria Oembler placed third in the consolation final of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.74 seconds.

In the field, sophomore Shawnt Middlebrook continued to shine.  She placed fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 11.84 meters (38-10.25 feet).  The distance set a personal best by more than a foot and a half.

In the shot put, Sofie Blount placed eighth with a throw of 12.25 meters (40-02.25 feet).  Her teammate, Jelni Kelly finished two spots behind in 10th with a distance of 11.78 meters (38-07.75 feet).

The Missouri State track and field team will travel to Bloomington, Ind., for the Indiana Relays next week.  The two-day event begins Friday at 3:00 p.m. inside Gladstein Fieldhouse.