Track and Field Bears Head to Bolivar for Bearcat Invite

SPRINGFIELD – After a team victory in its first outdoor outing of the year, the Missouri State track and field team is set to continue its season at the two-day Bearcat Invitational on Friday and Saturday, April 1-2.   

Southwest Baptist will serve as the meet host, which will kick off on Friday afternoon at Plaster Stadium in Bolivar, Mo. The Bears are coming off a first-place team finish last weekend at the Billiken Invitational in St. Louis, where several top performances boosted them past their opponents.    

At the SLU meet, Calandra Henry sprinted to a win in the 100-meter dash, racing a career-best time at MSU of 11.84 seconds. Charity Obazughanmwen finished in succession behind Henry with a time of 12.33, giving the Bears the top two spots in the event. Obazughanmwen also earned a second-place finish in the 200-meter, racing a 26.43. Edna Dar started her outdoor season off strong on the distance side of things and will look to ride the momentum she built into the Bears’ second meet of the season. In Saint Louis, Dar recorded several top finishes, including finishing second in 1,500-meter run (4:52.59) before going on to win the 5,000-meter run with a time of 18:37.35. 

The Bears also had their season debut in the javelin throw and took the top four spots in the event. Jaide Rose’s throw of 42.05 meters earned her the win, while Rochelle Etienne (37.63m), Cheyenne White (37.75m) and Morgan Gratza (32.81m) finished in second-fourth place. 

DaeLin Switzer continued her strong freshman campaign, winning her third high jump title of the 2021-22 season (1.62m). Tamia Emerson and Brooke Jenkins represented the Bears well in the long jump and triple jump, with Emerson finishing in fifth and second, respectively, while Jenkins recorded marks good for third and fourth place.  

MSU’s relay teams also had strong showings last weekend, winning the both the 4X100-meter and the 4X400-meter. The top placings with respective times of 47.88 (Obazughanmwen, Henry Halstead, Ifah) and 4:11.47 (Rayford, Obazughanmwen, Henry, Badoo) were a difference maker in the Bears’ winning day.  

The meet will kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon with the Javelin throw and will continue Saturday at 11 a.m. with more field and running events. 

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