The Freed-Hardeman University Track and Field teams started their season at the Harding Invitational this past weekend in Searcy, Ark.
For the women's team, Megan Lampley started her track season off with an 11th place in the 800m race with a time of 2:32. Elizabeth McKeeby competed alongside Lampley in the 800m finishing with a time of 3:05 while also finishing the 1,500m race in 6:28. Mary Pearce kicked off her collegiate track career by finishing runner-up in the 3,000m race with a time of 10:32.
For the men's track team, Jackson Overton and Luke Kirschbaum made their debut in the 100m race. Overton finished in 15th place with a time of 11.55 seconds, and Kirschbaum finished in 13.26 seconds. Overton also ran the 200m race finishing in 12th place with a time of 23.24. Jay Hunt and Greer Davis finished in 30th and 33rd place in the 400m race, while Grant O'Neal and Tristan Pharr both placed in the top 20 in the 800m. Six Lions competed in the 1500m race. Blake Brown led the pack while setting a new PR with a fourth place finish and a time of 4:05. Daniel Puckett finished right behind Brown in fifth place, less than a second behind Brown. Pharr, Danny Douglas, Luke Carter, and Cooper Whitney also raced in the 1,500m all placing within ten spots of each other. Doubling in the 3,000m race was Douglas, who set a new PR, Puckett, who placed 11th, Black, and Whitney. Barrett Poe joined the crew and set a 33-second PR finishing in ninth place with a time of 8:56. Poe also went on to win the 3,000m steeplechase race in 9:45.
The men also had a strong showing on the field side of the event. Jonah McKay and William Kirby both competed in the shot put posting throws over 30 feet. Jeremiah Lampitt placed 14th in the discus with a distance of 36.43 meters (~119 feet, 6 inches). Greer Davis started his javelin season with a big PR throw of 39.97 meters (~131 feet, 2 inches). Luke Kirschbaum, discus, and Hayden Bland, javelin, also made their field debuts.
The track and field teams will continue their season next weekend in Memphis, Tenn. at the Rhodes Invitational.
