The UCA track and field team broke a university record as well as accomplished several personal records April 18-19 at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“The goal for us is always to progress,” coach Josey Weaver said. “We can’t get caught up in worrying about what others do, all we can control is what we do.
“That’s been the message from day one. Really happy with the progress we made at this meet. I think it will pay off for us later in May,” Weaver said.
The UCA men’s relay team broke the UCA record for the 4×100 relay with a time of 39.71. The team consisting of graduate students Wesley Suen and Kobe Gill, and sophomores Jake Green and TyJuan Huffman placed third at the invitational.
Huffman said he achieved one of the goals he set for the invitational.
“My goal for this meet was to improve on our team’s previous 4×1 record, which we set last week,” he said. “For the 200, my goal was to set a regional setting time. I didn’t meet my goal individually but the relay broke the school record again so we accomplished that goal.
“My favorite part of the meet had to be the 4×1 and crossing the finish line and seeing my teammates and coach’s excitement afterward,” he said.
While Huffman did not set a regional time in the 200-meter, he did achieve a personal record with a time of 20.99.
Huffman said his teammates aided in his success at the meet.
“An outside factor that added to my performance was just the banter I had with my teammates before we even got to the track that really put me in a great mood and gave me a mindset to be loose and free for the day,” he said.
The team earned 16 top-10 finishes and 11 personal records overall.
Senior Symone Quiles achieved a personal record in the women’s 400-meter dash with a time of 57.90.
Junior Jaden Schneeberger threw a personal record in the men’s shot put event with a distance of 16.43 meters.
Freshman Xavier Simpkins jumped to a personal record in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.42.
Freshman Aaron Webb raced to a personal record of 49.04 in the men’s 400-meter event.
Sophomore Jack Dingman accomplished a personal record of 1:51.67 in the men’s 800-meter event.
Sophomore Jonathan Heath also achieved a personal record in the men’s 800-meter race with a time of 1:52.90.
Huffman said he will continue to work toward his goals at the upcoming meets.
“The thing I need to work on for the next meet is to leave on time when I’m in the relay and for the 200 is to finish through the line,” he said.
Weaver said the team is continuing to use the season as preparation for the ASUN tournament.
“That’s been a big goal of ours all year long,” Weaver said.
The track and field Bears will race to Des Moines, Iowa, on April 24-27 for the Drake Relays at Drake University.