Athlete Gage Voyles poses in preseason photo. Photo courtesy of KSU Athletics.
Track and field captured both team titles this past weekend at the Don McGarey Invitational at the KSU Outdoor Track and Field Complex.
The Owls honored their senior class prior to competition and followed with a dominant performance across both the men’s and women’s events. It was their first hosted event of the season after a long indoor year concluded March 13.
Kennesaw State director and head coach Cale McDaniel said the atmosphere and performances made for a strong start to the outdoor season.
“We had a ton of fun this weekend competing in front of family and friends,” McDaniel said. “We had a ton of great marks and they got off to a great start this outdoor season. I’m so proud of all these young people.
Gage Voyles delivered one of the top performances of the meet and added to his standout freshman year by clearing 2.18 meters (7’1.75”) to win the high jump and set a new school record in just his second collegiate outdoor meet. Voyles broke the previous mark of 2.17 meters set a decade ago in 2016.
KSU found continued success on the track, highlighted by a win in the 4×100-meter relay. The team of Trey Geter, Eric Young II, Ca’Von Lucas and Pishon Haughton posted a time of 40.11 seconds to take first place.
Junior Josh Jones led a strong showing in the hurdles, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 14.29 seconds. Cameron Guadiano and Darris Roberts followed with third- and fourth-place finishes in 14.37 and 14.83, respectively.
Justin Warner added another victory for the Owls, winning the 400 meters in 47.27 seconds and continuing his impressive season. Lucas also secured a podium finish in the 100 meters, placing third with a time of 10.66 seconds.
The relay team of Jones, Guadiano, Roberts and Marion Clark closed out the men’s events with a win in the 4×400-meter relay, finishing in 3:14.95.
In the field events, senior Simon Seid cleared 5.21 meters (17’1”) to win the pole vault, while freshman Cameron Dean took first in the triple jump with a mark of 15.49 meters (50’9.75”).
The women’s team did not disappoint either, matching the men’s success with multiple event victories and top finishes throughout the meet.
They opened with a win in the 4×100-meter relay, as Natalie Harris, Ebony Whyte, Samiya Wayne and Kenadie Singleton ran 45.18 seconds, the seventh-fastest time in program history.
The Owls also added depth in the 100-meter hurdles, with Natalie Harris, Alina Harris, Madison Maxey and Hannah Cheek placing second, third, fifth and sixth, respectively.
In the middle-distance events, Samantha Hartman and Kelly Miles secured first and second in the 800 meters with times of 2:12.75 and 2:16.76.
Eliana Mbadinga led KSU in the 400 meters with a winning time of 54.29 seconds before teaming with Singleton, Jadyn Bolden and Aminah Jabbie to win the 4×400-meter relay in 3:46.67.
Morgan Pepe earned a win in the pole vault in her outdoor debut, clearing 4.00 meters (13’1.5”), a mark that ranks fourth in KSU history.
The Owls swept the podium in the triple jump, as Victoria Joyce placed first with a leap of 12.23 meters (40’1.5”), continuing her impressive senior year, followed by Jermiya Winston and Kaylan McConnehead in second and third.
Miah Johnson and Tess Krogman rounded out the women’s performances with second- and third-place finishes in the 1500 meters, posting times of 4:48.92 and 4:48.95.
The Owls are set to travel next to Gainesville, Florida, to compete in the Pepsi Florida Relays on April 3–4.
