BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mississippi State indoor track and field began its 2024 season at the UAB Vulcan Invite in Birmingham on Saturday, and the Bulldogs cleaned house at the event.
In total, MSU had 16 first-place finishes and 37 top-five finishes across all events, highlighted by a pair of freshmen with massive days.
“Overall good day from this group of athletes,” head coach Chris Woods said in Saturday’s press release. “It’s early in the season and we have a lot of things that we can improve on. … It’s good to get wins when we can and we did plenty of that today.”
Jordan Ware set a new Vulcan Invite record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.93 seconds, currently the fourth-best time in the country.
Thrower Roury McCloyen put himself in the MSU record books as well with a throw of 17.47 meters in men’s shot put, winning the event with the farthest throw from a Bulldog since 2003.
In women’s field events, senior Jhordyn Stallworth swept women’s shot put and weight throw to begin her indoor season, the lone Bulldog athlete on the day with multiple first-place finishes.
MSU earned a sweep in the 600-meter run with wins from Mallory Streetman in the women’s event and Tyrese Reid in men’s.
Ramat Jimoh barely missed out on two golds at the event, winning the 3000-meter run but coming in second in the men’s mile run. He lost to teammate Hunter Anderson, who finished nearly five seconds ahead of him in the mile.
Among other individual first-place winners include Rosealee Cooper (60m hurdles), Rickyla Fagan (200m), AJ Hale Jr. (300m), Sema’j Daniels (400m) and Kennedy Jackson (long jump).
The Bulldogs also earned gold in the women’s 800-meter relay and men’s 1,600-meter relay.
“I’m proud of the way we competed today, and I am looking for more of the energy that we had today throughout the remainder of the season,” Woods said. “… Our goal is to continue the trend.”
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