Alva Review-Courier -

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Despite cooler weather at Prentice Gudgen Track, the Rogers State Track & Field team was impressive on a windy Saturday inside Carnie Smith Stadium at the Wendy's Invitational on the campus of Pittsburg State.

In the women's 800 meter run, RSU's Hailey Gillispie placed second with a time of 2:24.39 while freshman Ellen Thomas finished in 2:32.23 for sixth place while leading the first heat by over five seconds. Beth Terhune finished ninth in 2:37.60 and Monica Scott was one spot behind Terhune with a time of 2:38.88.

J'Cee Holmes and Gillispie joined Christi Dougherty as the only women in RSU program history to run a sub-five minute 1500 meter run as Holmes finished with a personal-best time of 4:55.24 for third. Gillispie finished in fifth with a personal best of 4:57.10, the RSU junior wasn't the only Hillcat to set a personal best as Ellen Thomas finished in 12th with a time of 5:10.29 and Monica Scott crossed in 5:13.99 for 13th as both set personal bests. Dougherty finished 11th with a time of 5:06.90 and Beth Terhune crossed in 5:17.12 for 15th place as the Hillcat freshman competed in the 1500 meter run for the first time.

Madeline Driskill finished fourth in the 400 meter dash with a season best time of 1:04.18 just minutes after the Hillcat freshman claimed second in the women's 100 meter hurdles finishing in 15.63, improving upon her season best time.

Holmes set a personal record in the women's 5000 meter run as the junior bested her previous record by 40 seconds with a time of 18:34.57 for third place.

Cambridge Coy posted a season best in the women's 100 meter dash with a wind aided 13.01 for fourth place. In the 200 meter dash, Coy finished fourth with a time of 27.26 as the lone Hillcat runner in the event.

Sophomore Olivia Couch started the day for the Hillcats with a third place finish in the women's long jump with a distance of 5.13 meters (16-10.00 feet).

In the men's 1500 meter run, Colton Green finished fourth with a personal best time of 4:03.37 while Tristan Owens crossed in 4:05.94, a personal best for the RSU freshman. Freshmen Byrun Ratliff (4:07.36), Brooks Cataudella (4:09.40), Jack Aikman (4:29.10) and Justin Noble (4:31.02) set personal bests finishing eighth, 10th, 19th and 20th respectively. Junior Ryan Alexander set a personal best of 4:12.35 to finish 12th while sophomore Cruz Chavez placed 14th with a personal best of 4:15.51.

Sophomore Seth Whittington finished fourth in the men's 5000 meter run with a season best 15:34.58 while freshman Nick Williams, with a time of 15:41.22, set a personal record.

Freshman John Pruitt set a season best in the 110 meter men's hurdles finishing in fifth with a time of 15.70. The Westville, Okla. native ran a personal best 58.27 in the men's 400 meter hurdles to finish in fourth place.

Rogers State returns to competition at the KT Woodman Classic in Wichita, Kan. on April 14-15 hosted by Wichita State.