Kemboi Wins Steeple, Horne Powers Tigers at Bill Schmidt Invite
DENTON, Texas - The East Central University men's track & field team turned in another strong performance at the Bill Schmidt Invite, hosted by the University of North Texas, highlighted by an event title and multiple top finishes across the weekend.
Leading the way for the Tigers was
Emmanuel Kemboi, who claimed the event title in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:52.44. On the track,
Josh Horne continued his standout season in the 200m, finishing second overall with a time of 20.80, improving his mark to second in the GAC and No. 12 in NCAA Division II. While the time was wind-aided (4.2) and just above the allowable limit for NCAA qualifying consideration, the time still ranks among the fastest in ECU history and highlights another big step forward in his freshman campaign.
In the middle-distance events,
Donald Kipsang earned a runner-up finish in the 800m with a time of 1:58.17, continuing his strong outdoor campaign.
The Tigers saw additional strong performances in the field, with
Eddie Jennings placing sixth in the long jump (6.59m) and
Lee Cobb finishing eighth (6.35m).
Cade Duvall recorded a personal-best throw in the discus (34.83m) while also placing fifth in the javelin (35.72m).
On the track, Horne also competed in the 100m, leading ECU with a time of 10.95, followed by
Curtis Johnson (11.22) and Jennings (11.60). In the 200m,
Ryan Owens (22.17), Johnson (22.81), and
Ivan Barrientos (24.44) added depth for the Tigers.
Owens also led the Tigers in the 400m (51.86), followed by
Samuel Brown (53.42) and
Jeremiah Rice (56.97). Barrientos competed in the 400m hurdles, clocking a time of 1:03.92.
In distance events,
Aiden Sager (2:03.57) and
Ladon Vance (2:05.76) competed in the 800m, while
Harley Cobb led the Tigers in the 1500m (4:09.36), followed by Vance (4:23.49) and
Huston Holder, who recorded a personal-best time of 4:27.05.
The Tigers continue to show depth and improvement across events as they prepare for the final stretch of the outdoor season.
