Hiebert Hits National Javelin Standard, Wildcats Compete at ESU Relays

EMPORIA, Kan. - After opening up the 2024 outdoor season a couple of weeks ago, the Baker track and field teams hung around in-state for their second meet of the spring as the Wildcats competed at the Emporia State Relays on Thursday evening in Emporia, Kan.

The Wildcats posted 13 top-10 finishes, including Gage Hiebert's fourth-place outing in the men's javelin where he eclipsed the NAIA 'A' standard with a mark of 59.85 meters. Hiebert, a junior from Olathe, Kan., was a national qualifier in the event at last year's NAIA outdoor championship.

Naomi Kilson added another fourth-place finish to the Wildcats' day with her distance of 5.56 meters in the long jump. Kilson also placed 11th in the 100-meter dash with a wind-aided time of 12.32 seconds.

Julie Coffey shattered her previous personal-best throw in the javelin with a distance of 39.13m on Thursday to earn seventh in the event and sit as the third-best mark in the conference so far this season. Ryan Jensen took eighth in the men's hammer throw with his best toss of the spring coming in at 46.15m.

On the track, Trot Wood clocked a time of 49.04 and finished eighth overall in the 400m with his personal-best mark putting him second among Heart 400m runners this year.

Anthony Davis (33:21.12) earned third-place honors in the men's 10K with teammate Chris Jackson (34:56.91) following in eighth to give the Wildcats a pair of top-eight finishers in the event. Wyatt Allen recorded BU's fastest time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase this year with a 10:16.15 and finished 10th.

Haley Carter won the women's 10K race on a time of 40:55.78, while Ellie Barnard ran a 43:22.31 and finished in third in the distance race.

The BU men's 4x400-meter relay team of Wood, Mario Marsetti, Alexander Claessens and Jacob McGlasson took seventh with a combined time of 3:26.07.

Up next, the Wildcats will travel to the campus of Pitt State for the Gorilla Classic, which takes place on Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.

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