Maryville, Missouri -- In a meet that coach Brent Ewing said might have been the best in program history, Indian Hills had a number of "unbelievable" performances in the Bearcat Open inside Hughes Fieldhouse Friday and Saturday. The Warriors had a school record from Tracy Gates in the triple jump, a total of eight top-5 all-time program bests and another win for Floyd Pond.
Gates's triple jump of 48'7.5" broke the school record he set as a freshman in his first time competing in the event this season.
Pond has now won his last five races, sprinting to a victory in the 60 meters in 6.73, the second-fastest time ever at Indian Hills. Pond came back in the 200 meters to win his flight in 22.29, then ran 22.26 in the finals.
Micha Reed turned in the second-fastest 800 meters in program history, winning his heat in 1:55.59.
Kohner Butts won his heat in the 400 meters in a personal best time of 49.34, placing him 5th all-time at IHCC.
Conner Riley ran the third-fastest 5000 meters on Friday (16:20) and followed with the second-fastest 3000 for Indian Hills on Saturday (9:06.03).
Tyler Dunigan, running his first race since early January due to an injury, came in 3rd in the 60 meters in 6.85.
Torian Kingston dropped 1.40 seconds in the 400 meters, running 50.00.
Jasean White went 22'4.5" in the long jump for 11th overall and teammate Robert Taylor was 15th with a 21'11" leap, his best of the year.
Jarvis Barber dropped .36 seconds in the 200 meters, running 22.45.
The 4x400 relay unit of Butts, Reed, Nathan Simons and Elijah Berry placed 2nd overall, winning their heat in 3:17.00, for the second-fastest time in school history.
So far, 13 men's individual events and one relaly have qualified for nationals.
Other results for Indian Hills in the Bearcat Open included a first-place finish for Chris Hudnall in the 60 meter hurdles (8.37); Herman Chongwain (22.57), Marsaun Cook (22.78), TJ Thomas (22.85), Brandon Snowden (22.90), Kingston (23.09), Mechai White (23.33) and Jadon Tirado (23.51) in the 200 meters; Elijah Boesch (1:15.92) and Ethan McAreavy (1:19.60) in the 600 yard run; Zach White (4:31.96) in the mile run; Kaleb Schneider (9.26) in the 60 meter hurdles; Jaxson Sharp (5'10") in the high jump; Nick Fitzpatrick (42'9.5"), Kase Hitt (41'4.25") and Hunter Rodibaugh (39'10.5") in the shot put; the 4x400 relay team of Snowden, Tirado, Tahzmere Givens and Barber (3:26.26); and qualifying times in the 60 meters by Chongwain (7.11), Dichon Francis (7.15), Snowden (7.15), Barber (7.22), Cook (7.23), Taylor (7.28), White (7.36) and Tirado (7.48).
"I said this last week, but this was easily the best meet we've had this year and, arugably, the best in program history," said Indian Hills coach Brent Ewing. "The amount of heat/flight winners (13) and the season-bests our athletes had was unbelievable. Almost everything went as we had hoped, which rarely happens in track and field. Tracy Gates's performance stands out. Coming out and setting a personal best/school record in the triple jump by 2'7" in a season-opener is simply unheard of. It had been nine months since Tracy had triple-jumped at a meet. Floyd Pond is looking tremendous going into the postseason. Running 6.73 as a freshman was a huge statement on his behalf. He's made a few mechanical adjustments which are really paying off. Micha Reed had the race we all knew he was capable of after coming back from injury. He's a dark horse in the 800 meters going into the national meet in three weeks. Conner Riley completed a very tough double, running some of the fastest times in program history in the 5000 and 3000. He's right on the fringe of qualfying for nationals. Everyone is healthy and confident and now we have a week off to rest. We really couldn't be going into the postseason in a better spot as a team."