Track & Field Hits Numerous National Standards in Split-Squad Action

LAKELAND, Fla.- The Southeastern University men's and women's track and field programs had another solid showing over the weekend in split-squad action, as the Fire were represented on Friday at the University of Tampa Invitational, as well as on Saturday at the Bahama House First Chance/Last Chance at Embry-Riddle. All in all, the Fire had 16 top-three event finishes in Tampa, as well as one NAIA A standard and two B standards completed. In Daytona Beach, SEU had 23 top-three event finishes, hitting five A and five B national standards.

In Tampa, Sophomore Julia Rohm hit the NAIA top-mark with a 10:19.97 finish in the 3,000 meters.

Sophomore Namiah Simpson and freshman Oluwafikayomi Lawrence both hit the "B" standard in the 200 meters. Simpson won the even with a 25.30 finish and Lawrence was right behind her with a 25.49 second-place time.

On the men's side, the trio of freshman Leighton Griep (22.28), sophomore Jonathan Moulton (23.05), and freshman Antonio Doster (23.08) swept the podium in the 200 meter race.

In Daytona Beach, freshman Amaya Kier won first place and hit the NAIA "A" standard in the 60m hurdles with an 8.94 finish. Freshman Ashley Epps finished second in the same event and hit the "B" mark with a 9.13 time.

The women's 4x400 meter relay of Rachel Boyd, Namiah Simpson, Oluwafikayomi Lawrence, and Courtney Gales hit the national "A" standard and won the event with a 3:51.35 mark.

Simpson achieved another "A" spot with 57.58 time in the 400 meters individual race, taking second place in the event.

Lawrence also hit the NAIA "B" standard and took the top spot in the 60 meter race with a 7.81 finish.

In the women's triple jump, freshman Idalia Romero-Talbert notched the NAIA "A" standard with an 11.41 meter distance. Fellow freshman LaDaijahnae Miller hit the "B" standard with her 11.26 meter finish.

On the men's side, sophomore Kyle Manuel continues to establish himself as a dominant force in the shot put, taking first place and hitting the NAIA "A" standard once again with a 16.04 meter toss.

Sophomore Davonte Vanterpool (8.26) and freshman Glenn Rodgers (8.30) both achieved "B" standards in the men's 60 meter hurdles, finishing second and third in the event respectively.
 
Both teams are now off until the NAIA Indoor National Championships in Brookings, South Dakota March 5-7.