Austin Peay State University Track and Field strong performance at Missouri State Invitational

Austin Peay Sports Information

Springfield, MO – Austin Peay State University track and field team may not have come out on top in Friday’s tri-meet at the Missouri State Invitational, but the Governors have several strong performances to hang their hats on as the regular season enters its final turn.

Seven season-best marks fell for Austin Peay at Allison South Stadium, including a pair marks that moved Austin Peay way up in the Ohio Valley Conference season bests lists.

The first came via the swift feet of junior Terri Morris, whose 54.84 in the 400m dash earned her the victory in the event and moved her to third in the OVC in that event for the 2016 outdoor season. That finish also bumped her to 74th in the NCAA East Region after the conclusion of competition, Friday.

She passed Breigh Jones for the team season-best in the event; Jones was runner-up Friday with a 55.62 run.

Morris and Jones ran the final two legs of Austin Peay’s 4x400m relay, joining Allysha Scott and Kymmalett Ross to post a runner-up 3:46.99 that elevated Austin Peay to third in that event this season; the Governors have earned silver in that event in the OVC Outdoor Championships the last two seasons.

“Overall I thought we made a lot of progress today,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “We had a number of personal- and season-bests, which signifies a good outing. It feels like we’ve turned a corner moving forward.”

On the track, other season-highs came from Unjala Lester (fourth, 4:53.47) in the 1500m run and Myiah Johnson (fourth, 14.09) in the 100m hurdles.

Field athletes boasting season-highs were Keyondria Ross and Nia Gibbs-Francis—both hit 1.61m () in the high jump, with Ross taking runner-up and Gibbs-Francis settling for fourth in a jump-off. Junior Chancis Jones hit 5.73m () in the long jump to take third, while Michella Carter‘s 11.84m () shot put gave her runner-up honors.

Austin Peay’s only other victory belonged to freshman Savannah Amato. The high-flying pole vaulter hit 3.76m () to earn the title, narrowly defeating teammate Dascha Hix, whose 3.66m () earned her runner-up honors.

Junior Molly Jordan also posted a strong showing Friday; her 2:18.50 800m run gave her second-place honors in the 13-runner field.

“I thought we made a lot of progress today,” Molnar said. “We continue to get better each week. We’ve still got a ways to go but we’re starting to get there.”

The Governors wrap up regular season competition at next weekend’s Memphis Invitational.