PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's and women's indoor track & field teams rumbled past the competition Friday (Jan. 19) as the Gorillas returned from the holiday break to host the Rumble in the Jungle Invitational.
 
The Pitt State men compiled 214 points in the meet to more than double up second place finisher Harding University (103 points). The Gorillas secured five individual event titles and 12 NCAA qualifying marks, highlighted by Mason Strader's meet record performance in the 3,000 meters.
 
The Pitt State women posted 212 points to breeze past the competition at the Robert W. Plaster Center. The Academy of Art finished a distant second place with 78 points. The Gorillas secured six event wins and a dozen NCAA qualifying marks, including a school record breaking performance by Kyla Davis in the pole vaults.

Strader led a dominant Pitt State showing in the men's 3,000m. He broke the meet record and posted the second-fastest time in school history, crossing the finish line in 8 minutes, 12.37 seconds. Braden Zaner placed second in the race in 8:15.88, the fourth-best time in program history; and Matthew Oglesby finished third in 8:16.98 (PQ).
 
Newcomer Caden Williams secured victory in the 600 yard run in a meet record 1:12.21 and helped his 4x400m relay teammates Dapriest Hogans, Wyon Chatman and Bailey Stone race to victory in 3:11.67 (PQ). Hogans (48.32, PQ) and Chatman (48.42, PQ) also placed second and third, respectively, in the 400 meters.
 
Cole Sample posted victories in the weight throw (60-6, PQ) and shot put (56-0, PQ), while Sam Thimmesch placed second in the shot put (49-2.5) and third in the weight throw (55-5). Jack Haukup also finished second in the weight throw (57-1).
 
Daylin Williams also claimed victory in the 60m hurdles with a fast time of 7.93 seconds (PQ), while Hunter Jones finished third in the discipline in 8.20 (PQ).
 
Treyvon Ferguson also placed second in the triple jump (46-7, PQ).
 
In the women's action, Davis shattered the Pitt State record in the pole vault with her clearance of 14-0.5.
 
Erica Schamel won the high jump in 5-7.75 (PQ) and newcomers Taylor Nelloms won the triple jump (40-3, PQ), with the third-best mark in school history in the discipline. Abby Lasiter won the weight throw with a personal-best mark of 55-1 and Olivia Lowery won the 600 yard run with a fast time of 1:22.84. Blakelee Winn also won the 60m hurdles with a PR time of 8:51.
 
Other notable performances included Octavia Duncan's second-place finish in the weight throw (53-4), Haleigh Hadley's second-place effort in the high jump (5-6.5, PQ), Shelbi Day's second-place showing in the pole vault (12-2, PQ) and Taniya Looney's second-place time in the 200 meters (24.32, PQ).
 
Kinleigh Hall (600y, 1:22.84) and Claire Bruening (800m, 2:18.21) enjoyed second-place efforts on the track. Newcomer Mikah Edwards (56.32) and Jamiya Morgan (56.47) both picked up NCAA qualifying marks in the 400 meters, while newcomer Diandrenique Gaines secured a PQ mark in the 200m (24.69).