PITTSBURG, KS – In week three of the season, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s and women’s track & field teams continued to improve in competition at the Wendy’s Pittsburg State Invitational at the Robert W. Plaster Center.
Two notable women would represent UAPB well in the field events: Joelle Stewart and sensation Safiya John.
In the women’s weight throw, Stewart started throwing over the 15-meter mark with her first throw at 15.20 meters. With a good start in the competition, Stewart knew her canon had more potential left to give. She launched the weight throw for 15.43 meters in her third attempt to secure a fourth-place finish.
Over in the women’s shot put, Deonmonique Granville secured a fifth-place finish with a throw of 12.50 meters.
In the women’s long jump, John had a great season opener a couple of weeks ago at the Arkansas Invitational, soaring over the six-meter mark with a first-place finish to make a statement. In a suitable environment at Pittsburg State, John knew the assignment and locked in. In her third attempt, John tucked and extended into the sand with a fair jump to land a mark of 5.99 meters to secure first place, passing on her last two attempts.
John then prepared for competition in the women’s 60-meter hurdles prelims with gold under her belt already on the day. Firing out of the blocks, John qualified for the final with a time of 8.55 seconds. In the finals, coming out of the blocks more aggressively and attacking the first hurdle, John would cross the finish line with a silver medal with a time of 8.42 seconds.
Over on the men’s side, Stephen Lane continues to progress in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. Lane’s fourth-place prelim finish with a time of 8.17 seconds helped him qualify for the finals. Lane would place fourth in the final as well, with a time of 8.22 seconds.
With two gold medals so far in the year, Caleb Snowden has been an outstanding asset to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff track & field team, but this guy can’t get enough of winning. Two jumps would win Snowden’s third consecutive gold medal, this time leaping a height of 2.05 meters to continue his undefeated season.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Golden Lions track & field will travel north to Southern Illinois to compete in the Don De Noon Invitational, which will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Southern Illinois University Recreation Center.
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