BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – McNeese's men's and women's indoor track and field teams posted some solid performances on the final day of the Samford January Open Indoor as 11 athletes posted personal bests while there were seven top five finishes on the afternoon.
 
Grace McKenzie followed up her first place showing in Friday night's women's high jump by posting a PR in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.79 for a second place overall finish. She capped the day by anchoring the Cowgirls' 4x400-meter relay team that ran a first place time of 3:56.95.
 
"It was a good showing by both squads today," said head coach Brendon Gilroy. "Grace (McKenzie) has been on a tear since winning the high jump Friday night."
 
Cowgirl thrower Alanna Arvie improved on her No. 1 Southland Conference ranking in the weight throw with a personal record mark of 58-6.75 for a second place finish and placed second in the shot put with a throw of 43-11.75. Kira Benkmann placed eighth in the weight throw with a PR measurement of 52-6.75.
 
Kim Uhlendorf had a fourth place finish in the 800-meters with a time of 2:19.55 and Sara Lamendola clocked a PR in the same event with a time of 2:25.34.
 
McKenzie was joined on the 4x400-meter relay team buy Aleyah Donald, Victoria Pierson and Kristian Ojonta.
 
On the men's side, hurdler Darion Dunn blazed to a second place mark of 8.11, a personal record. Kevin Tripeaux ran a PR in the event at 8.64 as did Marcellus Boykins at 9.32.
 
Ethan Rapp and Terrill Banks each finished first in their respective heats in the 400-meters and Nemanja Koviljac finished fifth in the long jump with a mark of 22-3.
 
The Cowboys' A relay team of Banks, Kobe Nevills, Jaylon Goodly, and Blake Comeaux, placed third in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:19.96.
 
"This was one of our more competitive outings in Birmingham in sometime," said Gilroy.
 
Next up for McNeese will be the home McNeese Indoor II College and High School meet with the college running on Friday and high school on Saturday at the Ralph O. Ward Rec Complex. A few multi-event athletes will travel to compete at Arkansas State since they missed this week's multi-event meet at Samford because icy conditions kept the athletes from traveling early.
 
McNEESE WOMEN
60m Hurdles: Grace McKenzie, 2^nd, 8.79, PR (1^st Heat 2); Rachel Woods, 15^th, 9.44 (3^rd Heat 4); Brentney Carroll, 21^st, 9.77 (4^th Heat 3); Kristian Ojonta, 25^th, 10.21 (6^th Heat 1)
400m: Victoria Pierson, 20^th, 1:00.96 (1^st Heat 8); Emma Godfrey, 31^st, 1:05.04 (2^nd Heat 8)
Mile: Gladys Jerotich, 9^th, 5:16.38; Jessica Fox, 10^th, 5:16.82 (PR); Alissa Lander, 26^th, 5:42.65
800m: Kim Uhlendorf, 4^th, 2:19.55; Sara Lamendola, 15^th, 2:25.34 (PR)
Weight Throw: Alanna Arvie, 2^nd, 58-06.75 (PR); Kira Benkmann, 8^th, 52-06.75 (PR)
Long Jump: Heaven Terrell, 5^th, 17-06.75; Rachel Woods, 16^th, 15-03.50
Shot Put: Alanna Arvie, 2^nd, 43-11.75
4x400m Relay: 1^st, 3:56.95
 
McNEESE MEN
60m Dash: Tyler Syrie, 7.00 (2^nd Heat 5); Blake Comeaux, 7.05 (4^th Heat 1); Morgan Smith, 7.07 (5^th Heat 1); Kevin Tripeaux, 7.39 (6^th Heat 3); Terren Gills, 7.42 (7^th Heat 3); Marcellus Boykins, 7.64 (7^th Heat 5)
60m Hurdles: Darion Dunn, 2^nd, 8.11, PR, (1^st Heat 4); Korey London, 8.53 (2^nd Heat 1); Kevin Tripeaux, 10^th, 8.64, PR, (4^th Heat 1); Zach Dibbern, 13^th, 8.78 (2^nd Heat 4); Lentz Similien, 20^th, 9.18; Marcellus Boykins, 21^st, 9.32, PR, (6^th Heat 1)
400m: Ethan Rapp, 1^st Heat 1, 51.01; Terrill Banks, 1^st Heat 5, 51.21; Cadence Ledet, 4^th Heat 9, 52.32
800m: Luke Horgan, 6^th, 1:55.74; Niall Holt, 8^th, 1:56.77; William Griffiths, 2:00.70 (PR)
Mile: William Griffiths, 9^th, 4:30.54 (PR); Eric Greene, 14^th, 4:35.92 (PR)
Long Jump: Nemanja Koviljac, 5^th, 22-03; Marcellus Boykins, 14^th, 20-01.75; Lentz Similien, 16^th, 19-11; Terren Gills, 21^st, 18-05.75
High Jump: Lentz Similien, 8^th, 6-04.75
4x400m Relay: Team A, 3^rd, 3:19.96; Team B, 10^th, 3:30.09