HOUSTON – The Ouachita Baptist University indoor track and field teams broke six school records Friday at the Howie Ryan Invitational, hosted by the University of Houston. The Tigers collectively posted 15 top-10 finishes against a deep field featuring nine Division I programs and 15 total schools inside Yeoman Field House.
Two mid-distance runners led the charge on the women's side as Addi Durand broke the school record in the 600 yard run with a time of 1:25.40 seconds. The sophomore finished third overall in the event, topping her previous best from last weekend at Oklahoma. Freshman Parker Evans added a career milestone in the women's 1,000 meters, clocking a school-record 3:20.57 to win the her first collegiate event.
Senior Ashley Dillman added a sixth-place finish in the 600 yard run with a time of 1:30.50. Two sprinters finished inside the top eight in the women's 400 meters race as junior Anna Woosley placed seventh in 57.16, while sophomore Joey Babel followed behind in eighth at 57.50. The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Babel, Woosley, Durand and Dillman delivered a strong performance with a fifth-place finish in 3:57.55.
Two senior distance runners rounded out the nine Tigers on the women's team who placed inside the top 10 of their respective events. Kate Nachtigal earned an eighth-place finish in the mile with a time of 5:06.43, while Elise Knight placed ninth in the 3,000 meters with a run of 10:16.51.
A streak of four Tigers set school records on the men's side, including two freshmen runners and two sophomore throwers. Freshman Brodie Fischer finished fourth in the 600 yard run with a time of 1:20.17. Freshman distance standout Caleb Greenwich etched his name further into the record book, finishing the mile in 4:15.56 for an eighth-place finish in a competitive field to continue his phenomenal debut season.
Sophomore Rocco Patrick led the field events for the men's team and finished fourth in the weight throw with a record-breaking mark of 59 feet, 9 inches (18.21 meters). Sophomore Bo Rogers set a new school record in the shot put with a mark of 48 feet, 1 inch (14.64 meters).
Two other freshmen helped contribute a top 10 finish on the men's side as Nathan Bradford placed ninth in the long jump with a leap of 6.70 meters. Freshman Mitchell Gage set a school record in the 400-meter dash, finishing just outside the top 10 in 49.30 seconds. Gage later returned to help the Tigers place ninth in the 4x400-meter relay after taking the baton from junior Gavin Rainey, then handing it off to Bradford and anchored by junior Dhakivion Seals as the quartet posted a relay time of 3:25.60.
Ouachita tallied 15 top-10 finishes across the meet, showcasing immense depth in the indoor track and field season. The Tigers continue to elevate the program standard with six record-setting performances in Houston. Ouachita hosts the Last Chance Meet in two weeks on Feb. 28 at the Hickingbotham Family Track & Field in Arkadelphia.
