The Missouri track & field team returned to the Bryan Clay Invitational for the first time since 2024, trading Midwest spring for the warm, sun-soaked skies of California. Day one started up Thursday, April 16, as three Mizzou athletes wasted no time delivering top performances on the track.
Alongside this meet, the Tigers started their first day at the Big Red Classic in Lincoln, Neb., Friday, April 17, with top-10 placements and a day of success.
Bryan Clay Day One Invitational Recap
Women’s 10,000m Heat One
Monica Wanjiku came out with
a bang, as she placed fifth overall in her race with a time of 32:28.20. Although she did not beat her personal best time of 32:21.97, her race would have been a top-10 Mizzou program record.
Men’s 10,000m Heat Two
Drew Rogers finished his race in ninth overall, with a stellar performance and time of 28:47.49. Rogers started his race strong in first place through 13 laps, but was overtaken by the end of it.
His performance today was slightly worse than his personal best of 28:14.27, but it would have been the No.2 program record for Mizzou in this event.
Women’s 10,000m Heat Two
Alongside them, Mirriam Chepkirui placed 17th overall during her race with a time of 34:21.83. This was a new personal best for her and a top-10 Mizzou program record, compared to the 35:38.90 she claimed at the 2025 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Their performances were nothing short of an eventful start for the Tigers in California, with more races to come for athletes such as Suzy Lecoutre and Kobi Walker in the women’s 5,000m race.
Big Red Classic Day One Recap
Women and Men’s 800m Race to First Place
Brianna Lee had a strong result for the Tigers with a commanding performance, powering her way to a first-place finish in 2:13.04. Right on her heels, Morgan Yeomans delivered a second place finish in 2:13.42, to secure the top two spots for Mizzou.
For the men, Joseph Bariola won the race, with a time of 1:55.91. Right behind him in second, River Hardman claimed his time of 1:56.02. Rounding the Tigers out, Ryder James finished in seventh with a time of 2:03.97.
Women’s Javelin
Valentina Barrios Bornacelli led the squad with a third place mark of 55.45m. Alongside her, Skylar Ciccolini claimed third with her mark of 51.91m. Other Tigers such as Morgan Cannon, Val Galligan and Marysa Flieg claimed top-10 spots in the event.
Men’s Hammer Throw
Redshirt Senior Sam Innes started the day strong, with a second place finish in the men’s hammer throw, with a mark of 68.95m. This result did not break his personal best throw of 70.36m, but it would have been the No.3 Mizzou program record in this event.
Garik Pozecki finished 10th with his new personal best throw of 62.02m, while Clayton Kamp placed 17th, recording his new personal best of 58.19m.
Women’s Hammer Throw
Petra Gombas led the pack, with a seventh place finish and a new personal best of 58.06m. Alongside her, Regan Kimrey claimed ninth at 55.29m. Kaitlyn Morningstar took 15th, Delilah Pippen claimed 18th and Tania Duncan stood at 20th.
Men’s 200m
Senior Robert Hines led the tigers with a second place finish in the men’s 200m race, with a time of 21.60. Alongside him, Dillon Leacock placed seventh with his new personal best of 22.07.
Women’s Pole Vault
Anna Vedral placed ninth overall in her event, with a mark of 3.61m. The field of competition Vedral faced today was nothing short of tough competitors, and she will hopefully bounce back in the next meet.
What’s Next
The Tigers will continue with the competition starting at around 12 a.m. for the Bryan Clay Invitational, where Kobi Walker and Suzy Lecoutre will compete in the women’s 5,000m race.
More competition will begin at 1 p.m. at the Big Red Classic, starting with a strong showing in the women’s discus as Tani Duncan, Ames Burton and Kaitlyn Morningstar take the field.
On the track, Allison Newman, Natalie Barnard, and Elissa Barnard will represent Missouri in the women’s 1,500 meters, while Marlena Tresnjo competes in the high jump.
The men’s 1,500 meters will feature a deep Tigers lineup, including Elijah Limo, Andrew Hauser, Joshua Allison, Tyler Freiner and Hardman.
Leacock will race in the men’s 400m, while Hines attacks the men’s 100m dash. Lastly, Chase Crawford, Sam Albert and Kamp will compete in the men’s shot put, closing the meet for the Tigers in style.
To read more about Missouri’s Track and Field team, follow @Rock MNation and @SophBleedsLA on twitter/X.
