The women’s track team received six victories Saturday at the Rhodes Invitational in Memphis, Tenn., while the men had five victories and broke a school record.
Harding finished 1-2 in the 100-meter dash, with sophomoreDonatella Luckett finishing in 10.99 seconds. Freshman Corey Bassett was second with a time of 11.14 seconds. Harding also had four of the top five finishers in the 400-meter. Junior Landon Belcher earned his second career victory in the 400-meter with a time of 48.50 seconds. Freshman Kevin Naceancenotook third with a time of 49.26 seconds, sophomore Jacek Dybowskiwas fourth with 50.05 seconds and freshman Dillon Bagwell placedfifth in 50.19 seconds.
Junior Andrew Evans took first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a career-best time of 9:37.81.
“It felt great to get another win, especially on a day when our whole team was competing so well,” Evans said. “It was a confidence booster and hopefully I can build on that and run some personal best times in the 5K and 1500 at UCA.”
Senior Kory Howard, junior Ahmad Scott, Luckett and Bassett won the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 42.03 seconds, while Bagwell, Howard, Naceanceno and Belcher won the 15-team 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:19.21.
The Bisons also had three top-three finishes in the field events. Senior Josh Winslagertook second in the pole vault, clearing 14 feet. Sophomore Ryan Caglewas second in the shot put with a throw of 47 feet, 1¾ inches and junior Chris Safley came in third in the javelin throw with a mark of 166 feet, 4 inches. Sophomore Eric Rapp set a new Harding record in the hammer throw with a mark of 111 feet, 3 inches.
“It felt really great (to set a new Harding record) because I had never thrown the hammer until I started college,” Rapp said. “I set a new record in the cold rain so I am expecting to beat it again on Saturday.”
Senior Portia Bell won both the 100-meter and 200-meter. She defeated 32 other runners to win the 100-meter in 12.48 seconds. It was her second career victory in the event. She then outran 40 other competitors gain her third career event victory in the 200-meter in 25.09. Sophomore Ewa Zaborowska won the 800-meter in 2:15.15, her third career victory in the event.
The Lady Bisons won both the 4×400 relay and the 4×800 relay. Freshmen Lydia Gordon and Sarah Coleman, junior Kristen Celsorand Bell won the 4×400 in 4:02.75. Sophomores Amber Priest and Dallis Bailey, Zaborowska and freshman Tammy Kim won the 4×800 with a time of 9:32.63.
“I’m not usually on the 4 by 8 team, I was just a sub so I was extremely excited that we won,” Priest said. “I was glad that I didn’t let the team down.”
In field events, Celsor reached her sixth career victory in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 4¼ inches. Senior Tiffany Chamberscleared 10 feet, 6 inches to place second in the pole vault, and freshman Rachael Domeyerfinished second in the javelin with a mark of 115 feet, 8 inches, only four inches short of the Harding record.
