Bolivar, Mo. – The SBU men's and women's track and field team hosted their annual Bearcat Invitational Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats had a meet to remember with both teams hitting incredible marks from a variety of Bearcat student-athletes.
 
On the women's side, Raquel Valdez kicked off the day breaking the school record with a mark of 45.69-meters. That was good enough for a National provisional mark, the first National mark she had achieved as a Bearcat. Not to long later the SBU 4x100-meter comprised of Laura Dixon, Stephanique Dean, Brianna Lord, and Collinique Farrington won their race and is currently ranked 11^th in the Nation. After them, Lainy Williams got off to a strong start in the 800-meter run taking 2^nd place and hitting a National mark which is currently 7^th in the Nation. Farrington continued to show her prowess at SBU as she broke another school record in the 200-meter with a time 23.53, 3^rd best in the Nation. Dean came in right behind her also with a provisional mark that is 9^th in the Nation. The SBU 4x400 team capped off the day taking 1^st place with a time of 3:46.93, currently 14^th in the Nation. That team is comprised of Farrington, Dixon, Lord, and Madison Hicks.
 
The men's side also had impressive performances from numerous different Bearcats. Freshman Collins Kiplagat had an impressive start to the day taking 1^st in the 5,000 with a time of 15:08.64. Trevor Maxville was right behind him in second place. Makaylin Forbes hit a top mark in the 400-meter run taking 3^rd place with a time of 48.72. Gavin Duchscherer also had a personal record by taking 2^nd in the steeplechase with a time of 9:26.84 5^th in SBU history. Parker Love had one of his best races ever in the 200-meter by hitting a personal record and being 4^th all time in SBU history. Love, Forbes, Chase Thomas-Plummer, and Andrew Rhoades finished the day by taking 2^nd place in the 4x400-meter relay.
 
The Southwest Baptist Track and Field team will return to action next week as they travel to Pittsburg State University. They will compete in the PSU Gorilla Classic on Saturday April 6^th.