KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – WKU Track & Field completed its first weekend of dividing and conquering, sending nine Hilltoppers to the 52nd Tennessee Relays in Knoxville and 13 Lady Toppers to the Austin Peay Governors' Invitational in Clarksville, Tenn. Between the split squad, WKU brought home 12 top-five finishes and four event titles. The Red and White won the men's 4x200-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay in Knoxville and the women's high jump and long jump in Clarksville.
"We had good performances this weekend at both meets," said head coach Erik Jenkins of the split WKU squad. "Each one presented an opportunity to continue to mature in multiple event groups. The competition at both meets consisted of some of the best programs in the country."
52nd Tennessee Relays
WKU's two relay victories highlighted the trip to Knoxville as the men's 4x200-meter relay team and 4x400-meter relay team finished first against strong competition. The 4x200-meter relay squad of Kymari Gates, Austin Hayes, Lincoln Warren and Josh Davis ran a time of 1:23.60 in the event. Warren and Davis doubled on the 4x400-meter relay team along with Abdur Kelly and Maor Seged to run the second fastest time of the season at 3:09.91.
Frequent leadoff relay team member Lincoln Warren also led the 4x100-meter relay team. Martin Owusu-Antwi, Gates and Davis joined Warren to finish second in the event with a time of 39.82, WKU's second fastest time of the season in the 4x100. The Red and White finished second to host Tennessee.
In individual events, Gates led the Hilltoppers, placing second in the 200-meter invitational event with a time of 20.68. As of Saturday evening, this time earned Gates the best 200-meter time in Conference USA.
Seniors Warren and Owusu-Antwi placed high in individual events as well. Warren ran a time of 47.23 in the 400-meter which was good for fifth while Owusu-Antwi placed ninth in the 100-meter with a time of 10.40. Seged finished 10th in the 400-meter hurdle event, running a time of 54.81.
The Hilltoppers will travel to California next weekend for the Mt. SAC Relays.
Austin Peay Governors' Invitational
The Lady Topper jumpers led the way for the Red and White at the Govs' Invite on Friday as both Annastacia Forrester and Brianna Eskridge finished first in the high jump and long jump, respectively. Forrester cleared a height of 1.71 meters to take home the top title. Eskridge jumped a flat 19 feet (5.79 meters) in the long jump event to place first. Eskridge also placed fifth in the high jump with a height of 1.66 meters.
Sprinter Juannae Lewis ran in the 200-meter dash for the first time this outdoor season, placing second with a time of 24.45. In the women's 400-meter dash, Aairiona Hayden-Ransom earned fifth for WKU after running a 58.64.
In pole vault, Getter Lemberg marked 3.55 meters which was good enough for third in the competition. Thrower Adarian Gray continued her recent success, placing second in the javelin event with a distance of 37.98 meters.
The Lady Toppers, along with some Hilltoppers, will travel to compete next weekend at the Georgia Tech Invitational.
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