Tops Complete First Indoor Meet with 10 Top-Five Finishes

Saturday, January 16

Birmingham, Ala.

Western Kentucky University

Vulcan Invite

1/16/2021 6:14:00 PM | Track & Field

Full Results

BIRMINGHAM – After taking a six-week break away from The Hill for the holidays, WKU got back to work at the Birmingham Crossplex for the first time in nearly a year. WKU Track & Field wrapped up its first indoor meet of the season with 10 top-five finishes over seven different events at UAB's Vulcan Invite on Saturday.

On the Hilltoppers' side, four different male throwers finished in the top five of an event. Freshman Kaison Barton finished third in the shot put (15.37m) in his first ever collegiate meet. Sophomore John Elam finished just behind him in fifth with a 14.75-meter throw. In the weight throw, junior Joel Dittoe placed fourth (16.29m) while Brett Brannon finished fifth (16.14m). The marks were PR's for both Dittoe and Brannon.

"Brett (Brannon) threw really well and Kaison (Barton) did too," said throws coach Brent Chumbley. "He had a top-three finish in his first ever collegiate meet, so it was a good start for him. Overall, I was pleased with the throwers today and we'll continue to make improvements as the season goes along."

Pole vaulter Devon Montgomery tied his PR in indoor pole vault with a jump of 4.60-meters. The sophomore's mark was good enough for a fourth-place finish for the first meet of the season. Grace Turner finished in fourth on the women's side with a mark of 3.60 meters.

"In terms of pole vault, Devon (Montgomery) tied his PR so I'm excited about that, especially considering he hasn't been able to practice on his longer poles in the facility we train in," said Chumbley. "Grace (Turner) made significant improvements in the last year, and that showed in her performance today. She didn't practice at all this week because she was sick, so this was a good opening for her."

In the sprinting events, WKU also came away with numerous top-five finishes. Sophomore Alexis Williams finished fourth in both the 60-meter (7.60) and 200-meter (24.72). Despite Saturday being the first time she ran in the 60-meter for WKU and a slight trip on the bank in the 200-meter, her times in both races currently lead Conference USA as seven women's programs have competed in at least one meet.

"That 60 time would've put her in the top eight, top six in the conference last year," said sprints coach Tosha Ansley on Williams' performance. "I wish they would've run another race because I think she would've ran faster. As far as the 200 goes, it was okay. Her season best for us has been 21.4-something but she almost fell in the 200 today… so she just slowed down a little and finished the race."

In the men's 200-meter, graduate senior Marlowe Mosley and senior Dartez Hamlin finished fourth (21.93) and fifth (21.94) respectively. Freshman Elliott Bryant also made his debut as a Hilltopper and finished 10th with a personal best of 22.29. It was also his first time running on a banked track.

"For the guys, it was pretty much a start, at least to get a base of where they are and then we can move on from there," said Ansley. "Dartez (Hamlin) and Marlowe (Mosley) ran faster, but for Elliott (Bryant) to do what he did and handle the pressure well, I was pleased with him. This was a start for the guys."

Junior Emerson Wells was just shy of personal bests in the mile (4:28.18) and 3000-meter (8:55.25) as he finished 11th and 15th, respectively. On the women's side, senior Savannah Heckman finished ninth in the 800-meter (2:25.58) and freshman Lucy Rutherford made her indoor track debut with a ninth-place finish in the mile (5:28.88).

WKU will be back at the Birmingham Crossplex in just six days for the Samford Invite on Friday, Jan. 22.

Men's Results
Shot Put
3^rd – Kaison Barton – 15.37m – second in C-USA as of 1/16*
5^th – John Elam – 14.75m
Weight Throw
4^th – Joel Dittoe – 16.29m*
5^th – Brett Brannon – 16.14m*
9^th – John Elam – 14.28m
Pole Vault
4^th – Devon Montgomery – 4.60m*
60m
9^th – Dartez Hamlin – 6.99
10^th – Elliott Bryant – 7.00*
13^th – Marlowe Mosley – 7.02
200m
4^th – Marlowe Mosley – 21.93
5^th – Dartez Hamlin – 21.94
10^th – Elliott Bryant – 22.29*
14^th – Jonathan Allen – 22.74*
1 mile
11^th – Emerson Wells – 4:28.18
16^th – Will Perrone – 4:42.60*
3000m
15^th – Emerson Wells – 8:55.35
21^st – Will Perrone – 9:24.81

Women's Results
Weight Throw
9^th – Mary Claire Redden – 12.71m*
14^th – Rachel Flinchum – 10.15m*
Pole Vault
4^th – Grace Turner – 3.60m
10^th – Nikki Ogorek – 3.15m
14^th – Allison Ferguson – 3.15m*
60m
4^th – Alexis Williams – 7.60 – leading Conference USA as of 1/16*
18^th – Samyzia Sears – 7.98
31^st – Audrey Griffin – 8.54*
200m
4^th – Alexis Williams – 24.72 – leading Conference USA of 1/16
15^th – Samyzia Sears – 26.44
800m
9^th – Savannah Heckman – 2:25.58*
13^th – Maddy Hurt – 2:35.13*
14^th – Lucy Rutherford – 2:35.43*
1 mile
9^th – Lucy Rutherford – 5:28.88*
18^th – Maddy Hurt – 5:32.81
25^th – Zoe Manning – 5:54.58*
3000m
19^th – Carley Maskos – 11:48.18*
20^th – Zoe Manning – 11:57.94*