Bears, Sugar Bears take eight firsts at UCA Open

UCA Sports
Steve East, Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations

CONWAY – The University of Central Arkansas men’s and women’s track teams combined to win eight events at Saturday’s UCA Open at the Bill Stephens Track and Hendrix’ Young-Wise Stadium.

The men’s squad grabbed five firsts while the women won three events, including a school record 12 feet by freshman Olivia Groeber in the pole vault, breaking her own mark.

On the women’s side, senior Hadley Swanson won the long jump with a leap of 18-09.25, the third-best in UCA history. Junior Logan Morton finished second (18-09).  Morton won the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:04.10 and was second in the triple jump (38-07.75), a top 10 mark at UCA.

Senior Brigette Caruthers won the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 11:21.64, the fifth-best in school history, with Kylee Stewart second and Skylar Lange third. Shawanna Brockman was third in the discus, Erin Woodward was fourth in the 1,500 meters and Aysha Anderson finished second in the 110 hurdles.

For the Bears, junior Eric Moore won the high jump at 6-10.75, with Takudzwa Muchichwa third. Junior Brant Cook took the 1,500 meter title with the fifth-best time in school history (3:53.73). Freshman Zachary Jewell won the 100 meters in a time of 10.88, while senior Grant Williams won the 5,000 meters in 15:49.96, with junior Alonzo Pollum second (15:50.60).

Freshman Darius Herl won the javelin with a toss of 187.03, the sixth-best throw in school history. UCA’s 4×400 relay team finished third (3:22.54) while senior Darrell Johnson finished second in the 400 meters (49.47) and Daniel Lawson third (49.66).  Jaron Hamilton finished second in the 3,000 steeplechase (9:48.50).

Both squads will compete at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kan., next weekend.