Runner-up finishes by Bailey (weight throw), Lovely (high jump); five personal bests lead Shawnee State women's indoor track to fifth place at Lions Invitational
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Runner-up finishes by Jaina Bailey in the weight throw and Makaela Lovely in the high jump proved to be key outputs for the Shawnee State women's indoor track and field program -- as the Bears scored 51 points as a team to finish fifth in the 11-team Lions Invitational, which was held at the Centennial Fieldhouse and Austin E. Knowlton Fitness Center in Cincinnati Saturday afternoon.
Bailey, who posted a 44-foot, eight-inch weight throw, placed second in a 13-participant weight throw field -- and was one of four individuals in the field to post a weight throw of greater than 40 feet in the event. Lovely, meanwhile, posted a high jump of four feet, 11 inches to place second in the 10-individual high jump.
"Jaina Bailey contributed well in the weight throw again," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "She's been very strong to start the year, and I'm proud to see her continuing to build off of her form to start the year. Makaela added in a nice finish for us and continues to provide consistent marks as a high jumper."
The women's indoor track and field program also went 3-for-3 in personal bests among participants who competed in the shot put -- as Bailey, Olivia Newman and Tashawna Young each posted new collegiate standards for themselves in the event. Bailey posted a 31-foot, five-and-a-half inch mark to finish sixth, while Newman and Young followed with 31-foot, two-inch and 28-foot, four-and-a-quarter inch throws to place seventh and 10th, respectively.
In running events, Ali Taylor clicked off a time of 11.09 in the 60 meter hurdles to place fifth and set a personal best time, while Amanda Salmons and Kirsten Evans finished fourth and fifth in the 800 meter run with times of 2:35.21 and 2:36.79, respectively. The latter time by Evans also represented a personal best.
"It was also nice to see us post five personal bests," Flynn said. "We're excited to take next weekend off, and focus on working and getting better the next couple of weeks. We are excited to move into February, and what improvement it will bring."
Down the finishing order, Taylor also added in a fourth place showing in the high jump (four feet, five-and-a-quarter inches), while Evans (5:44.43) and Salmons (5:57.21) finished fifth and sixth in the one mile, respectively.
The rest of the competitors, by order of event that appeared on the official scoring, is as follows:
60 meter dash -- Camille Hall (11th, 8.67)
200 meter dash -- Camille Hall (22nd, 30.83)
3,000 meter run -- Beth Middleton (seventh, 11:52), Sydney Reed (ninth, 12:15.56), Natalie Brammer (13th, 13:14.44)
High jump -- Ali Taylor (fourth, four feet, five-and-a-quarter inches)
Long jump -- Makaela Lovely (sixth, 13 feet, two-and-a-quarter inches)
Weight throw -- Olivia Newman (ninth, 33 feet, one inch)
Additional
Shawnee State will be back in action Friday, Jan. 31 when the Bears compete at the Youngstown State Mid-Major Invitational in Youngstown, Ohio and at the Cedarville Collegiate Invitational in Cedarville, Ohio.
