Toppers post strong results at MC Spring Invite
CLINTON, Miss. — Blue Mountain Christian University runners and field competitors produced several solid finishes Saturday at the Mississippi College Spring Invite, highlighted by Jonah Barnhardt’s top Topper performance in the men’s 5,000 meters.
Barnhardt ran 15:42.88 to place eighth in a competitive men’s 5,000. Teammate Lukas Dykes finished 18th in 16:30.22, Erick Flores was 23rd in 18:03.84, JT Draper placed 26th in 18:44.61 and Noah Harrington was 27th in 18:53.14.
On the women’s side of the 5,000, Kaedyn Wilson led the Toppers with a 12th-place time of 20:04.35. Ella Shepherd finished 15th in 20:45.07 and Lauren Paul placed 18th in 23:01.52. In the men’s 1,500, JaKarien Perry was 15th in 4:26.50, Dykes was 16th in 4:26.74 and Barnhardt was 22nd in 4:30.28. In the women’s 1,500, Jorja Kate Mooneyhan placed 20th in 5:39.72, Ruthie Hutchinson was 23rd in 5:44.81 and Leah Montgomery finished 26th in 6:23.06.
Perry returned for the men’s 800 and placed 18th in 2:05.87, with Sammuel Hopper 20th in 2:09.70. Mooneyhan paced the women’s 800, finishing ninth in 2:37.73, and Hutchinson was 11th in 2:44.53. In field events, Abby Laney placed 18th in the women’s discus at 26.30 meters and Shane Murphee was 10th in the men’s javelin at 36.65 meters. The Toppers will look to build on these performances as the season continues.
