JOPLIN, Mo. - In its first meet of the 2020 season, men's and women's track & field hit the road to Joplin, Mo. Friday and Saturday to take part in the 2020 Missouri Southern Lion Invite. Over the course of the two-day event, several program records were broken. On Friday, Connor Escajeda carded a 7.18 in the 60 meters to break the school record only to be beaten by Thomas Baggett's 7.14 just minutes later. On the final day of the event, Jaydan Hunt set a new record in the shot put after registering a 11.93 meter mark. Escajeda sought revenge Saturday after setting the new 400 meters mark with a 51.89 clip. Most notably, Kiersten Huitt finished in third place in the 60 meter hurdles after carding a 9.70 mark while Escajeda and Baggett carded fifth and sixth place finishes in the 400 meter dash. The Warriors showed promise in the meet which included several NCAA Division I and Division II schools which included crosstown rival Central Arkansas and Division II foe Harding.

NOTABLE TOP FINISHES
Men's Long Jump
- Tyler Rodriguez - 6.53 meters (11th)

Men's Triple Jump
- Tyler Rodriguez - 13.02 meters (11th)

Women's 60 Meter Hurdles
- Kiersten Huitt - 9.70 (6th)

Men's 400 Meter Dash
- Connor Escajeda - 51.89 (5th)
- Thomas Baggett - 52.15 (6th)

Women's 1 Mile Run
- Victoria Ortega - 5:49.24 (12th)

Women's 4x400 Meter Relay
- Kiersten Huitt, Thalia Fort, Romee Blokland, Bailey Brya - 4:22.04 (6th)

UP NEXT
The Warriors will travel to Pittsburg, Kan. to take part in the Gorilla Classic next Friday and Saturday in the final indoor event of the season.

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