Pride women place first, men second at Cornell Invite

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Clarke University track and field wrapped up competition at the Cornell Invitational with the women placing in first and the men placing second.

Continuing her ascension as a long-distance runner, junior Rory Bickler came out victorious in both the women's 1500 (5:11.55) and the 1000-meter (43:25.77) races, as well as finishing in second in the 800 (2:33.92). Bickler was also a contributor on the women's 4x400 meter relay that defeated Cornell College by one second with a time of 4:10.06. Two other members of that team were Jaycie Franco and Emma Terwische.

Also, a member of that relay squad, Allena Rowland finished first in the 400-meter hurdle event with a time of 1:04.99 and competed to a second-place finish in the 200-meter with a mark of 26.09 seconds.

Finishing in fifth place in the women's hammer and shot put was Royal Hart who hit marks of 41.49 and 11.14 meters.

Competing in the women's high jump was Anyah Ranson, Gwen Bottom and Isabelle Matthews who all hit marks of 1.45 meters to get the second, third and fourth spots.

The Pride had four members on the women's side compete in the pole vault, but Emma Grant finished on top of everybody by vaulting 3.36 meters. Freshman Grace Squires was the second highest finisher getting third with a mark of 3.15 meters.

Grant earned herself a second-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 4.63 meters. Malia Beich finished in third in the same event with a mark of 4.39 meters.

Highlighting the day on the men's side was two individual winners and multiple top 5 finishes. In the men's 200 meter, the Pride took home all three top spots as Josh Musonda came out victorious with a time of 22.72. Followed by Kain Sourbeer's 22.75 second race and Gavayne Smith's time of 23.00 seconds. Sourbeer also competed in the 400 and finished in second with a time of 50.83 seconds.

Showing improvement in the long jump was junior James Vandun who won the event with a mark of 6.34 meters.

Freshman Tyler Kell hit a mark of 1.90 meters on the high jump, which was good for second place.

Competing in the hammer throw was Wyatt Wilkins who finished fourth, hitting a mark of 44.54 meters.

For the men's distance runners Emmett Schwartzhoff and Carson Sansenbach, they had a solid day as Schwartzhoff ran the 5000-meter in a time of 16:06.56, good for second place. Sansenbach crossed the finish line of the 800-meter race in 2:03.53, achieving third.

Pride track and field will prepare for next Friday's Augustana Meet of Champions being held in Rock Island, Ill.