Jax State Track Shines in Joe Walker Invite - Jacksonville State University Athletics

Friday, April 5

Oxford, MS

Jax State

Joe Walker Invite

Meet Info

4/7/2024 9:51:00 AM | Track and Field

2024 Joe Walker Invite, Final Results

OXFORD, Miss. – Jax State track and field earned a pair of event wins and knocked down seven now personal records at Ole Miss' Joe Walker Invite.

"It was another successful weekend, we finished with a few event wins and several more personal records," said Jax State head coach Jeremy Provence. "Most importantly, the group continues to bring a competitive attitude and the excitement is growing!"

One week after setting Jax State's 100-meter school record, freshman Elo Blessing Okpah returned to take the title in the same event in Oxford with a time of 11.60 seconds to top Ole Miss' Akilah Lewis and Vanderbilt's Haley Bishop atop the podium. Okpah also ran top five in the 200-meters along with fellow freshman Chidinma Margaret Agu. Agu finished third in the 200m, but claimed Jax State's other event victory with her win in the 400 meters behind a new PR time of 54.90 seconds. Not far behind Okpah in the 200m and Agu in the 400m, freshman Emma Drinkard turned in a pair of top 10 runs and new personal best times.

In the hurdles, sophomore Hailey Tucker clocked under a minute for the first time in a new PR run of 59.93 seconds finishing runner-up to Vanderbilts Falon Spearman.

"In the sprints, Emma had a double PR in the 200 meter and 400 meter and continues to compete as hard as anyone out there. Elo and Chidinma both came away with individual victories against a competitive field. Amiyah (Johnson) improved her 200 meter time on Friday, and on Saturday she lead off the event champion 4x100 meter relay. Still, Hailey's performance in the 400-meter hurdles highlighted the group. Finishing under 60 seconds is a huge lifetime best."

Bethelhem Manzano Jimeno led a large Gamecock contingent in the 800-meter race finishing on the podium with a third-place time of 2:11.78. Breanna Becerra ran a PR at 2:19, just ahead of Lindsay Fletcher at 2:24. Fletcher would also PR in her 1,500-meter race turning in a 4:43.11. Jimeno came home sixth in the 1,500 invite running a 4:29.57.

"The middle distance group competed well and continue to improve. Beti's 1500 meter and 800 double was very impressive. She has made it to the point where she will have the opportunity to compete in an elite heat, it's now about figuring out how to properly execute against the competition. With each opportunity I feel like we are getting better and better. Lindsay continues to improve and set another personal best in the 1500. Breanna also set a collegiate PR going under 2:20 in the 800 meet race, a performance that should give her confidence moving forward."

Kayley Stanley and Savannah Yates vaulted 3.66 meters for top five marks, while Lydia Seals also placed fourth in the javelin throw. Freshman Jadyn Bonds placed sixth in her efforts both the javelin and the high jump competition.

"In the field events, Lydia put together her best javelin series of the season and ended up with a season best. Her first throw set the tone for a great day. Jadyn also had a great competition in javelin finishing with a PR. She followed that up with a good performance in high jump on Saturday. She has been much more consistent recently and is starting to put things together. I expect a new PR coming in the near future. In pole vault, Kayley and Savannah had a strong showing. Savannah's vault set an outdoor PR."

Senior Carolina Minozzi opened the action both mornings in heptathlon competition where she tallied a new best point total of 4,229.

"Carolina competed hard Friday and Saturday and came away with a new PR in the heptathlon. Things didn't come easy The past couple days, but Carolina is a tough competitor and she found a way to put tougher a solid performance."