East Central University Athletics

Track & Field Teams Compete at John Jacobs Invitational

4/6/2025 10:40:00 AM

NORMAN, Okla. - The East Central University track & field team participated in their second meet of the season on Thursday at the John Jacobs Invitational, hosted by the University of Oklahoma. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the event was delayed by a day due to weather conditions.
 
The Tigers delivered strong performances, securing six top-10 finishes across both the men's and women's events, competing against athletes from NCAA Division I, Division II, and NAIA schools.

John Jacobs Invite Results
 
Top Performers:
The women's high jump group had the standout performance of the meet, with Lexii Lecrone leading the way. She finished in fourth place with a mark of 1.56m. Teammates Zoe Grooms and Kaylyn Cotner tied for fifth, both clearing 1.51m, while Emily Easter rounded out the group with a ninth-place finish at 1.46m. Grooms and Easter both posted new season bests.
 
Cade Duvall led the men's field events with a throw of 31.40m in the javelin. Meanwhile, Melvin Kipkemboi delivered an impressive performance in the 5000m, securing seventh place with a time of 14:46.56—setting a new season best and finishing as the top Division II runner in the event.
 
Women's Results:
In the 800m, Stephanie Ojo finished in 40th place with a time of 2:42.97, while Cadence Carlos was 44th (2:51.19) and Brylee Baird was 45th (2:52.74). The 1500m saw six Tigers compete, with Sheilah Cheruiyot leading the group in 36th place at 5:19.67. Brenda Jepkoech followed in 39th place with a time of 5:22.36, and Stephanie Ojo (45th, 5:35.08), Sharon Jesang (46th, 5:37.65), Cadence Carlos (50th, 5:48.29), and Brylee Baird (52nd, 5:53.80) also ran strong.
 
In the 5000m, Naomy Limatukei placed 13th with a time of 18:14.50, while Carolyne Kimaiyo finished 19th (19:21.49) and Madison Ham was 21st (19:28.92).
 
Jolee McIntyre represented the Tigers in both the 100m and the long jump. She finished 22nd in the 100m with a time of 14.07 and 15th in the long jump with a mark of 4.53m. Maecee Kirtley and Gracey Dotson competed in the shot put, with Kirtley finishing 11th with a new season-best throw of 11.14m and Dotson placing 14th with a mark of 10.60m. Abigail Jones closed out the field events for the women, finishing 18th in the discus with a throw of 35.27m.
 
Men's Results:
Curtis Johnson and Nam Grant competed in the 100m, finishing 24th (11.78) and 32nd (12.24), respectively. Caleb Hunter represented ECU in both the 200m and 400m, finishing 18th in the 200m with a time of 23.69 and 20th in the 400m at 51.43.
 
In the 800m, Aidan Wells led the group with a 29th-place finish at 2:02.44. Aiden Sager followed in 30th place with a time of 2:02.81, and AJ Gustin, Joshua Robertson, Landon Vance, Elijah Bloyed, and Huston Holder finished in 42nd (2:09.04), 43rd (2:09.27), 46th (2:12.92), 48th (2:16.35), and 49th (2:18.37), respectively. The 1500m saw Aidan Wells again lead the pack with a 14th-place finish in 4:09.76. Maverick Stephenson followed in 24th (4:15.51), AJ Gustin in 34th (4:22.52), Harley Cobb in 39th (4:32.97), Joshua Robertson in 41st (4:33.84), Landon Vance in 42nd (4:38.84), and Huston Holder in 43rd (4:43.40).
 
The 5000m featured strong finishes from Aspel Kiprob, who placed 12th with a time of 15:12.51, and Maverick Stephenson, who finished 19th at 15:56.20.
 
In the field events, Mekii Bell and Jaxon Merchant both set new season-best marks in the shot put, with Bell finishing 17th at 12.60m and Merchant 19th at 11.62m. In the discus, Merchant led the men with a 14th-place finish, recording a new season-best mark of 33.04m. Cade Duvall and Devionte Fuller finished 16th (30.70m) and 18th (27.78m), respectively.