Hounds Roll Through JUCO/NAIA Challenge
Pittsburg, Kan. - Fort Scott men's and women's track & field competed in its second indoor meet of the 2024 season on Saturday, Jan. 20th, as the Hounds donned the Maroon & White at the JUCO/NAIA Challenge hosted by Pittsburg State University at the Robert W. Plaster Center just 30-minutes south of The Fort.
The men of Fort Scott took first at the meet with a total of 120 team points. The Greyhound women produced a second-place spot on the team leaderboard with a total of 66.5 points. Results for the meet can be found here: https://www.milesplit.live/meets/589957/team-scores
Yet again Icey Green led the way as she collected a first-place spot on the podium with a 5.68m leap in the women's long jump, good for a ticket to nationals in March. A 56.85 performance by Ivana Odonkor toppled a school record in the women's 400m, as well as earning a national qualifying mark. Teammate Jazz Dilworth also earned some points in the 400m as she finished fourth at 1:00.38.
Chaniqua Tonge put up a strong 24.61 showing in the women's 200m, taking first in the process. She was joined by a 25.17 race by Odonkor (3rd-place), as well as fifth- and seventh-place outings by Brandi Drake (25.58) and Dilworth (25.87), respectively.
Josiah Taylor also produced a first-place effort in the 200m, dashing to a 21.43 time. Durrell Collins was right behind Taylor coming in at 21.61 to place third. Michael Nworu (5th, 21.85) and Nickory Richards (8th, 21.94) would each earn additional points for the Hounds in the men's 200m.
Tayshun Thomas yielded a 14.48m mark in the men's triple jump, good for a first-place spot on the leaderboard.
The men's 4x400 crew had a 3:17.90 first-place result backed by Keaton Hansard, Richards, Mario Paul and Charmar Smith.
Four women finished in the top-10 in the women's 600m event represented by Emmanuella Squire (3rd, 1:40.73), Aliyaha Heron (7th, 1:43.11), Roxanna Riojas (9th, 1:48.46) and Rio Kirven (10th, 1:48.67).
Taylor went 6.81, to place second in the men's 60m event, while teammate Dekell Minor also posted a mark of 6.85 taking fourth. Paul (2nd, 8.12) and Barry Richards (3rd, 8.13) snagged 14-points for the Hounds in the men's 60m hurdles. Charmar Smith crossed the line at 1:20.71 (2nd-place, 8 points) to earn a national qualifying mark in the 600m, while teammate Fabian Campbell went 1:23.05 placing fourth (5 points).
The men's 400m event saw Paul (1st, 48.28) and Nworu (2nd, 48.91) capture the top two spots, with Paul qualifying for nationals. Richards (5th, 49.50) and Hansard (6th, 49.63) also nabbed some points for the Hounds in the 400m.
Gabe Brown took fifth in the men's long jump with a mark of 6.78m. The men's 4x800 squad (Fabian Campbell, Lord Odonkor, Yahir Morales, Darrell Bembry) also took fifth at 8:28, good for four additional points on the team leaderboard as well.
Fort Scott returns to the track on Saturday, Jan. 27th, in Pittsburg, Kan., again as the Greyhounds prepare for the Wendy's/Pittsburg State Invitational at the Plaster Center again.