Fayette, Mo. — The Central Methodist Track and Field program delivered a dominant showing at their home facility this weekend, hosting 25 institutions at the two-day CMU Invite at Davis Field and Hairston Track.

The Eagles capitalized on the home atmosphere with multiple event victories, NAIA qualifying marks, and standout performances across sprints, hurdles, relays, distance, and field events.

For the women, Bailey Arceneaux led the charge in the 400m with a first-place finish in 54.90, hitting the NAIA A standard. Close behind, freshman Deborah Martinez (55.04) also reached NAIA A standard, while Aroa Carballo (55.91) and Diane Ondobo (56.43) added depth with NAIA B qualifying times. CMU secured four of the top six places in the event.

In the hurdles, Central dominated the 100-meter hurdles final, sweeping the podium. Zaria Jones claimed the title in 13.96 (NAIA B), followed by Tafaol Mohamed (14.28) and freshman Akeelah Knox (14.30). Knox impressed in prelims with a 13.79, earning an NAIA A qualifying mark.

The Eagles continued their push in the 400-meter hurdles, where freshman Hannah Reed placed second overall with a 1:01.12 (NAIA A) joined by Allena Rowland's third-place finish (1:03.03, NAIA B).

Sprinting success continued in the 100 meters, where senior Zakiya Porter placed second overall in 11.71 seconds, matching her own school record and meeting the NAIA B standard. Teammates Maria Sahagun (5th, 12.02) and Zyaire Robinson (7th, 12.12) also reached the finals. Sahagun returned in the 200 meters to place fourth (24.58), leading a strong group effort.

Relay squads were a major highlight for the Eagles, as the women's 4x400 relay team of Martinez, Rowland, Knox, and Arceneaux captured first place in 3:43.47, a new school record and the fastest time in the NAIA this season. 

The 4x100 relay team of Porter, Arceneaux, Sahagun, Robinson added a runner-up finish in 46.13, setting a new school record and achieving an NAIA qualifying time.

In the distance events, Ali Gutierrez led the Eagles in the 800 meters with a sixth-place finish (2:20.50), while Lili-Rose Breheret secured a podium finish in the 10,000 meters, placing third in 46:52.41.

The field events saw strong contributions, including a runner-up finish from Natalie Calcaterra in the high jump (1.52m) and a third-place finish from Shelley Thompson in the triple jump (11.41m).

The women's heptathlon was a showcase of Eagle depth and dominance, as Annemarie Koerner claimed the overall title with 4,787 points, followed closely by Haley Bellamy in second (4,768), Shannon O'Neil (4,680), and Joana Vakasobuduru (4,556). The quartet each punched their tickets to outdoor nationals. 

On the men's side, the Eagles matched the momentum with multiple event victories and NAIA qualifiers. Junior Corlando Chambers posted a new school record time of 47.95 in the 400 meters.

Freshman Tyrone Summerall led a 1-2 finish in the 400-meter hurdles, winning in 51.57 (NAIA A), followed by Logan Bass in 52.39 (NAIA A). The time for Summerall is the No. 1 time in the NAIA this season and a new school record, while Bass' time is the No. 3 time in the country. The duo have both qualified for nationals with their times.

The men's 800 meters saw a standout performance from Oliver Cabana, who captured the event title with a new personal best of 1:50.83 (NAIA B). Dimitrios Gkantatsios placing third (1:53.22).

Wilton George also punched his ticket to nationals with a new personal best time of 14.22 in the 110m hurdles. 

Relay teams continued to shine, as the men's 4x400 relay squad of Bass, Isaac Lawson, Chambers, and Summerall secured first place in 3:11.21, a new school record and the No. 2 time in the NAIA this season. 

The 4x100 relay team of George, Lawson, Che Wickham and Charles Young also impressed with a new school-record time of 40.40 seconds, punching their ticket to outdoor nationals in May. 

In the field, Azaan Stoughtenborough placed fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 14.60m (NAIA B), while Brock Melton added a third-place finish in the pole vault (4.35m). 

Multi-event standout Waisale Inoke delivered a strong decathlon performance, finishing second overall with 5,943 points, including event wins in the long jump, shot put, high jump, and discus.

Central will take the weekend off before returning to action at the Culver-Stockton and Pittsburg State meets Saturday, April 18.

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