The Missouri Invitational served as an early test for Missouri track and field on Saturday, with several athletes delivering top finishes against some of the country’s strongest programs.
The men’s mile was a photo finish, with Tennessee transfer Yordanos Zelinski capturing the win for Missouri in 4:10.26. Rounding out the top four for Missouri were freshman Andrew Hauser and junior Joshua Allison, who took third and fourth respectively, with Hauser finishing in 4:11.56 and Allison in 4.11.91.
Junior Chase Crawford registered a throw of 17.74 meters in the men’s shot put, sending him to the top of the podium. Fellow Tiger junior Sam Albert took second with a toss of 16.03 meters.
Graduate student Dillon Leacock took home a pair of silver medals in the 60-meter hurdles and the 400-meter dash.
“I feel like I’ve improved in my mentality … I’ve been fixing the stuff that I’ve been doing wrong, like leaning forward at the end and different things in my start,” Leacock said.
Leacock is excited about the upcoming meets in the indoor season.
“I think I’m looking forward to harsher competition,” Leacock said. “More difficult competition usually pushes you to be able to do more. So I’m looking forward to that, just chipping away at my time.”
Redshirt senior Sam Innes earned a gold medal in the weight throw, with a toss of 74 feet and 5 inches. Behind Innes, senior Garik Pozecki finished second, throwing 68 feet and 1 inch.
Missouri dominated the women’s weight throw as well, with junior Reagan Kimrey earning a first-place finish with a throw of 65 feet and 4 ¼ inches. Senior Petra Gombas took third, senior Ames Burton got fourth and junior Kaitlyn Morningstar earned sixth.
Sophomore Marlena Tresnjo took home second place in the high jump, with a leap of 5 feet, 8 ¾ inches, clearing the bar on her third attempt.
Missouri track and field travels to Boston for its next meet, Friday, Feb. 13, at the Valentine Invitational.
