Andrew Mason/Arkansas State Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (1/17/25) – Alexis Waller claimed the triple jump crown and Arkansas State track and field added 25 top-10 finishes in the Samford Open on Saturday at the Birmingham Crossplex.
 
Waller recorded a distance of 12.02m (39-5.25) to top 17 contestants and record her first event title at the collegiate level. Ava Lang, Menachem Chen and Alyas Wilson also recorded second-place finishes throughout the day.
 
Lang set a new personal best in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:19.24 while Wilson clocked in at 8.12 in the men’s 60-meter hurdles final. Chen finished second in the men’s shot put with a distance of 17.19m (56-4.75).
 
Omar Hussein established a new personal record in the men’s weight throw, posting a distance of 17.90m (58-8.75) to claim ninth-place in the Red Wolves’ indoor record book for the event. Egor Kniazev also surpassed his own personal record in the weight throw, posting a 17.50m (57-5.00) mark to break his previous best set one day prior.
 
A-State returns to action at the Fighting Illini Challenge, set to take place on Friday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24, in Champaign, Illinois.
 
SAMFORD OPEN RESULTS
Women’s Weight Throw
17. Finja Dziobek – 13.83m (45-4.50); 20. Annika Wilbanks – 13.61m (44-8.00)
 
Women’s Long Jump
16. Brandi Echols – 5.02m (16-5.75); 18. Alexis Waller – 4.99m (16-4.50)
 
Men’s Long Jump
12. Brandon Dodd – 6.52m (21-4.75) [PR – Indoor]
 
Women’s 60m Prelims
16. Ka’Liyah Jordan – 7.78; 18. Nyla Watson – 7.80 [PR]; 19. Je’Breiya Chapman – 7.86
 
Men’s 60m Prelims
22. Camren Bailey – 7.01; 34. CJ Burge – 7.08; 51. Brandon Dodd – 7.27
 
Women’s 60m Hurdles Prelims
10. JoJo Modile – 9.14; 17. Jaelynn Blackwell – 9.44; 30. Maraya Mitchell – 9.87
 
Men’s 60m Hurdles Prelims
3. Alyas Wilson – 8.20 (Q); 7. Kenyon Parker – 8.19 (q); 15. Bruce Payerli – 8.60 [PR]; 17. Michail Rose – 8.64
 
Men’s 60m Hurdles Finals
2. Alyas Wilson – 8.12
 
Women’s 1 Mile
11. Gracie Jacobs – 5:07.69; 13. Mia Conroy – 5:16.38; 19. Kat Schaefer – 5:25.13*
 
Men’s Weight Throw
4. Omar Hussein – 17.90m (58-8.75) [PR]; 5. Egor Kniazev – 17.50m (57-5.00) [PR]; 6. Jared Moore – 17.49m (57-4.75) [PR]; 19. Menachem Chen – 14.43m (47-4.25)
 
Women’s Shot Put
3. Finja Dziobek – 13.28m (43-7.00); 12. Liya Guy – 11.35m (37-3.00); 14. Annika Wilbanks – 11.21m (36-9.50) [PR]
 
Men’s 1 Mile
10. Pranav Vegiraju – 4:17.64*; 21. Jackson Burch – 4:27.84; 23. Gabe Falting – 4:29.45
 
Men’s High Jump
3. Zane Cattage – 1.94m (6-4.25); 9. Chris Russell – 1.89m (6-2.25) [PR]
 
Men’s 60m Hurdles Prelims
3. Alyas Wilson – 8.20 (Q); 7. Kenyon Parker – 8.19 (q); 15. Bruce Payerli – 8.60 [PR]; 17. Michail Rose – 8.64
 
Women’s 400m
7. Jada Buggs – 57.31; 17. Kneila Watson – 58.81 [PR – Indoor]
 
Men’s 400m
4. Spencer Taylor – 48.00 [PR – Indoor]; 53. Mehki Hoo – 59.10
 
Women’s 800m
2. Ava Lang – 2:19.24 [PR]; 7. Lizzee Winkler – 2:22.63*
 
Men’s 800m
5. Brett Jacobs – 1:53.97 [PR – Indoor]; 11. Owen Morgan – 1:56.81*
 
Women’s 200m
6. Ka’Liyah Jordan – 25:18; 16. Nyla Watson – 25.82 [PR]; 33. Ali Lara – 27.04*
 
Men’s Shot Put
2. Menachem Chen – 17.19m (56-4.75); 3. Chris Boyd – 17.17 (56-4.00); 4. Omar Hussein – 16.89m (55-5.00) [PR]; 6. Jared Moore – 16.63m (54-6.75)
 
Women’s Triple Jump
1. Alexis Waller – 12.02m (39-5.25)
 
Women’s 3000m
4. Anna Douma – 10:27.34*; 13. Abigail Tomberlin – 10:58.95 [PR]
 
Women’s High Jump
4. Amaya Brown – 1.60m (5-3.00)
 
[PR] – Personal Record
[Q] – Qualified
* – Event Debut