Story by Justin Gaston, Contributing writer
Murray State traveled to Missouri State and University of Virginia Friday, with many Racers achieving new personal bests, as well as a new school record.
At the Virginia Challenge, sophomore distance runner Vallery Korir set a new 10,000-meter record for the Racers, topping her original record-breaking time of 35 minutes, 8 seconds. Her new school record, with a time of 34 minutes, 27 seconds, finished fifth.
Emma Gilmore, senior from Locks Heath, England, also ran a personal best in the 800-meter dash, running a time of 2 minutes, 13 seconds.
Sophomore distance runner Rebekah Priddy raced in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing near her personal best in 11 minutes, 2 seconds.
Sophomore distance runner Caroline Grogan ran in the 5,000-meter race, running her best time this season with 17 minutes, 54 seconds.
The Racers also went to Missouri State’s invitational Friday to compete against other OVC teams.
Freshman hurdler Jabreuna Brimlett ran with a time of 13.96 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, moving her to fifth fastest time in the OVC and a personal best. Brimlett also had a personal best in the long jump with 5.75 meters as well as a personal best in the triple jump with 11.97 meters.
Freshman sprinter Tamdra Lawrence ran her personal best in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.72 seconds, which is currently the second fastest time in the OVC.
Freshman sprinter Jocelyn Payne ran her personal best in the 400-meter hurdles, running a time of 1 minute, 5 seconds. Payne also ran a personal best of 12.46 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
Sophomore mid-distance runner Emani Griffin took two first place finishes in the 800-meter dash and the 1,500-meter run. Griffin ran a time of 2 minutes, 15 seconds in the 800-meter dash, a new personal best, and in the 1,500 meters ran a time of 4 minutes, 41 seconds.
Head Coach Jenny Swieton says she is very pleased with her team’s results and is happy their hard work is showing this season.
“Things are starting to really come together for our team,” Swieton said. “For the most part, people are getting a lot better at just competing,”
Swieton says her team’s desire to be better and compete is a major factor in the team’s success.
“I think it is that and the fact that they are really ready to do well. They have been working hard for this,” Swieton said.
Freshman high jumper Aubrey Main finished third in the high jump with a jump of 1.61 meters, setting a personal best.
Freshman thrower Christina Meinhardt set two personal bests in the shot put and hammer throw. Meinhardt threw 12.96 meters in the shot put and 44.61 meters in the hammer throw. Her mark in the hammer throw ranks third in Murray State history.
The 4×400 meter relay team of junior sprinter Victoria Yocum, sophomore sprinter Anna Curlin, Payne and Lawrence ran a personal best, finishing seventh with a time of 3 minutes, 57 seconds.
The 4×100 meter relay, consisting of the same team as the 4×400 meter relay team, placed first with a time of 48.01 seconds.
Swieton says she wants her team to stay focused and work on the little things with three weeks left until the OVC Championship.
She believes they can compete with any of the schools they face.
“They have worked very hard and now is the time to really buckle down and do the little things,” Swieton said. “We have three weeks to really get the most out the season and now is the time to do that. Keep working hard, stay confident and compete,”
The Racers will be competing again this weekend in Hillsdale, Michigan, as part of the 50th Annual Hillsdale College Relays.
