Bolivar, Mo. – This week will look very different for the track and field team of SBU as they split up to head to different competitions. The throwers and pole vaulters will head an hour and a half southwest to Joplin, Missouri to compete on the campus of Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) at the MSSU Lion Open. Meanwhile, the rest of the team will be making a longer trek north to compete at the Bearcat Invite on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU).
 
Last week, the entire team competed at the Pitt State Invitational. Both the men's and women's sides featured impressive performances. On the men's side, freshman Cade Nold made SBU history by setting the record fastest time for the school in the 600-yard run. His teammate, freshman Ellis Joslin, also put in a solid performance by hitting a national mark and placing fifth in the men's high jump.
 
The women's track and field team had several runners of their own that placed well in their competition. Senior Stephanique Dean and junior Laura Dixon took 2nd and 4th, respectively, in the 400-meter dash. Both runners performed well enough to hit times ranking in the top 25 among all NCAA DII athletes. In the 5000-meter run, the duo of junior Kiersten Potter and sophomore Natalie Gerdes placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively, setting personal records in the process. The pair have also now moved up in SBU's recordbooks, with Potter occupying 4th place all-time and Gerdes just behind her in 5th.
 
The throwers and pole vaulters of SBU's team are set to begin their fun at the MSSU Lion Open on Friday, February 6 with the weight throw at 2:00 p.m. They will compete in events through Friday and into Saturday, concluding with the pole vault at 2:00 p.m. on February 7. While the Bearcat invite begins on Friday, the Bearcats will only compete in competitions on Saturday with events beginning at 9:00 a.m. finishing with the men's 4x400-meter relay at 7:05 p.m.

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