EMPORIA, Kan. - The Missouri Western track and field team achieved nine top-10 finishes on the final day of the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Francis G. Welch Stadium.
 
"The MIAA meet is the second toughest meet in the country, behind nationals," commented head coach Cody Ingold. "There were many near misses this weekend, but they competed their tails off."
 
In the men's throwing events, Lucas Trotter secured a fourth-place finish with an NCAA Division II Provisional throw of 57 feet 0.75 inches in the shot put. Tyrease Dutton-Bicalho also made his mark with a 10th-place finish in the triple jump.
 
Senior Samuel Hydro, who qualified for the 800m final on Saturday, finished strong in the event with a time of 1:52.91 to place sixth.
 
Wimach Gilo and Pau Valderrama capped off the meet with solid performances in the 5000m; Gilo crossed the finish line in fourth place with a time of 14:30.75, followed closely by Valderrama, who finished fifth in 14:32.50.
 
"We took some big swings on the men's side in the distance events, and it ultimately paid off," Ingold stated.
 
Sophomore Makenzie Garr delivered the best finish for the women, placing fourth with a Provisional distance of 49 feet 1 inch in the shot put. Abbey Henry added a sixth-place finish in the triple jump, recording a distance of 36 feet 11 inches, marking the Griffs' second top-10 finish in field events.
 
"Abbey Henry scoring as a freshman in the jumps has me excited for the future," Ingold remarked about the freshman's debut at the outdoor championships.
 
In women's running events, Lillian Culter posted a time of 4:47.15 in the 1500m to finish 10th. Additionally, the 4x400m relay team of Aneesa Abdul-Hameed, Yesenia Carrillo, Haley Sampson and Bailey Cutler completed the meet with a time of 3:57.38 (97th in the nation) to finish ninth.
 
"Abby Kinney's score in the 10k yesterday was huge considering she sat out a whole year," Ingold noted. "It was great to see her come back better than ever when it counts."
 
Kinney was honored as the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Track and Field "A Game Scholar-Athlete" during the championship's award presentation on Sunday evening, sharing the accolade with Jessica Saunders after both student-athletes recorded identical meet-best grade point averages.
 
Missouri Western will return to action at the Concordia Twilight in Seward, Nebraska, on May 9, and the Loper Twilight in Kearney, Nebraska, on May 10.  
MEN'S RESULTS - 9th of 9 | 29 POINTS
Top-10 Finishes
800m (FINALS)
Samuel Hydro - 1:52.91, 6th
 
5000m
Wimach Gilo - 14:30.75, 4th
Pau Valderrama - 14:32.50, 5th
 
Shot Put
Lucas Trotter - 17.39m (57'0.75"), 4th (NCAA Division II Provo)
 
Triple Jump
Tyrease Dutton-Bicalho - 13.98m (45'10.50"), 10th WOMEN'S RESULTS - 10th of 11 | 9 POINTS
Top-10 Finishes
1500m
Lillian Cutler - 4:47.15, 10th
 
Triple Jump
Abbey Henry - 11.25m (36'11"), 6th
 
Shot Put
Makenzie Garr - 14.94m (49'1"), 4th (NCAA Division II Provo)
 
4x400m Relay
Aneesa Abdul-Hameed, Yesenia Carrillo, Haley Sampson, Bailey Cutler - 3:57.38, 9th