Broncho Track and Field Posts Strong Performances at Pitt State

The University of Central Oklahoma’s track and field team achieved several top 10 finishes in the Pittsburg State Invitational this past Saturday. 

UCO’s best finish of the day came from Deriayah Lee for her third-place performance in the 600-yard race. The junior sprinter and hurdler ended with a time of 1:28.96.

Lee said that as long as her mental state stays strong, she expects to continue progressing over the last two meets.

“My mindset was simply to go out there and perform the best I could with where I’m at right now in the season.”

Lee later teamed with McKenna Huston, Gabija Pukstas, and Reta Ojene in the 4×400 relay. They finished eighth as a team with a time of 4:02.86, the second fastest mark for the team this season.

Charis Phillips placed ninth in the triple jump event with a mark of 11.12 meters. Phillips also competed in the long jump event, finishing 23rd with a mark of 5.03 meters.

Phillips said, “It felt really good to secure a top 10 finish, especially with how competitive the [invitational] was.” The freshman jumper also said that seeing her teammates come together to watch her jump gives her confidence in knowing that she’s not alone.

Freshman distance runner Pukstas added another strong performance, coming in tenth place in the mile event. She finished with a time of 5:09.86, a season best for the Bronchos.

“It is definitely nerve-wracking competing against girls much older than me,” said Pukstas. “Trusting God, my training, and my coach has truly helped me so much.” 

Pukstas aims to run the mile under 5 minutes, and to do so, she said she must stay focused, positive, and disciplined.

Zakeirah Johnson finished 14th with a time of 7.76 seconds in the preliminary round of the 60-meter sprints. This sophomore sprinter from Omaha also ran a season-high for UCO, finishing 22nd (59.71) in the 400-meter race.

In the 60-meter sprints, freshman Lauren Thaggard came in 54th (8.16). Newcomer Charis Phillips (8.37) led juniors Mikayla Stephenson (8.38) and Marley Battles (8.39) to finish 62nd, 63rd, and 64th, respectively.

Lee returned in the 60-meter hurdles event, placing 21st in 9.21. Followed by sophomore Tyana Hymes, who finished with a time of 9.82, coming in 32nd.

More notable performances came for the Bronchos in the 400-meter race. Sophomore sprinter Huston ran a 59.71, coming in 22nd. Hymes came in 31st (1:01.78) and Ojene, a Rogers State transfer, followed in 32nd (1:02.17). 

The Bronchos return to Pittsburg State Feb. 13-14 for the Russ Jewett Indoor Classic before competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Championships in Kansas, which begins on Feb. 27.