The Missouri Southern men and women track and field team saw action in split locations last weekend as the distance runners traveled to Southwest Baptist University and the others traveled to Angelo State in Texas.

At SBU, freshman Gidieon Kimutai shined, winning the 3k with a time of 8:35.06 and finishing third in the 1,500m with a time of 3:58.17.

Junior Josh Webb finished sixth in the 1,500m. In the 3k, Cody Berry finished third, Webb finished fourth, junior Michael Shanahan finished ninth and senior Ryan Drendel was 13th. 

For the women at SBU, sophomore Julianna Determan won the 3k with a time of 10:33.96. Classmates freshman Alice Evans finished third and junior Abbi Rogers was fifth. 

At ASU, junior Desirea Buerge set a new school record in the shot put with an NCAA Automatic Qualifying mark of 15.86m. 

Buerge’s throw is the top throw in Division II this season by more than six inches. 

Junior Payton Roberts threw her way into third with an NCAA Provisional Qualifying distance of 15.60m. 

Buerge continued her dominance, winning the discus event with another school record and an automatic qualifying mark of 55.54m. Roberts finished second in the same event, picking up another NCAA provisional mark of 47.42m.

Junior Morgan Ash finished third in the javelin with an NCAA Provisional distance of 45.04m. 

Sophomore Jasmine Deckard finished second in the 100m and won the 200m. Deckard picked up NCAA Provisional Qualifying times in both events, 11.71 in the 100m and 24.01 in the 200m. 

“On the women’s side, we’ve gotten some great marks in from just two meets,” Deckard said. “Honestly, everyone is killing it right now.”

Senior Morgan Smith finished second in the 100m hurdles with an NCAA Provisional qualifying time of 13.92

Sophomore Wynter Nekola finished second in the high jump with a height of 1.60m.

Senior Emily Presley qualified for nationals with an automatic qualifying mark in the pole vault of 4.10m. Presley finished first in the event. Sophomore Jordan Banker and Elizabeth Bisotto both placed fourth in the pole vault.

For the men, senior Andrew Wells finished second in the high jump with a height of 2.00m. Senior DeShaun Williams placed seventh in the same event. Junior Dean Howard finished fifth in the pole vault with a height of 4.70m. Junior Josh Norville picked up an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark of 7.44m in the long jump, winning the event.

Junior Rajindra Campbell threw his way into second in the shot put with an NCAA Provisional mark of 18.35m. Campbell also finished fourth in the discus with a distance of 54.61m. Freshman Rajheim Carby placed third in the javelin throw with a provisional mark of 63.41m.

 “My favorite thing about this team is their desire to work hard,” said distance coach Jamie Burnham said on his favorite thing about the track and field team this year. 

The Southern men and women will compete next weekend at Pittsburg State University.