JONESBORO, Ark. (4/22/23) – Seven Arkansas State track and field athletes captured event titles on Saturday, capping off a stellar Red Wolves Open at the A-State Track and Field Complex.

Cheyenne Melvin was one of the seven event winners and broke the facility record in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:08.67. Kayla Wade followed in fifth, crossing in 2:18.34 while Hannah McLaughlin ran a personal-best 2:25.64 to place 17^th.

Sophie Leathers opened the day by winning the women’s 5000 meters, registering a time of 17:05.10. Wade finished third, running a season-best 17:26.29. Olivia Walter recorded a time of 19:03.03 to place 11^th.

In the men’s 5000 meters, Cash Kunkel finished second overall and was the top collegiate finisher with a time of 14:45.04. John Carder placed fifth, crossing in 15:25.63 while Zeke McCain (15:57.55) and Nati Enright (15:58.23) placed eighth and ninth.

Willem Coertzen uncorked a throw of 17.68m (58-0.25) to win the men’s shot put and rank sixth in school history. Jacob Tracy followed in second with a throw of 15.87m (52-1) before winning the discus throw with a mark of 52.41m (171-11). Patryk Baran placed sixth in the shot put with a toss of 12.34m (40-6) and finished seventh in the discus (38.45m/126-2).

Evangelynn Harris won both the women’s shot put and discus, recording throws of 15.18m (49-9.75) and 48.13 (157-11), respectively. Selase Sampram earned runner-up finishes in both events with marks of 14.75m (48-4.75) and 46.62m (152-11). Izzy Daines placed 10^th in the shot put, hurling the implement 10.31m (33-10).

In the women’s high jump, Sydney Lane cleared a season-best 1.70m (5-7) to win the event, while Megan Knowling, Ashley Guadamuz and Daines cleared 1.61m (5-3.25). Bella Coscetti placed eighth with a height of 1.56m (5-1.25).

Knowling also competed in the triple jump, placing second with a mark of 11.45m (37-6.75).

Camryn Newton-Smith ran a collegiate-best 14.02 to place second in the 100-meter hurdles before fellow Australian Colby Eddowes finished second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.35.

A-State earned runner-up finishes in both 4×100-meter relay races, clocking times of 48.01 in the women’s event before the men combined for a time of 40.87.

In the women’s 100 meters, Carly Strong placed fifth with a time of 12.40, followed by AJ Allen (12^th – 12.66) and Blaique Webster (16^th – 12.88). Bradley Jelmert was A-State’s top finisher in the men’s 100 meters, crossing in 11.22 while Courtney Thomas (11.36) and Will Hart (11.52) placed 14^th and 17^th, respectively.

The Red Wolves concluded the day in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, finishing third with a time of 4:09.27.

NEXT UP

A-State continues its road to the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships, competing next weekend (April 28-29) at the Maroon and White Invite (Starkville, Miss.), Music City Challenge (Nashville, Tenn.) and Drake Relays (Des Moines, Iowa).

SOCIAL MEDIA

For the latest on the A-State track and field and cross country programs, follow @AStateTrack on Twitter and @Arkansas_State_Track on Instagram, while also liking the team’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateTrackAndField.