Wildcats fare well at Arkansas
Stashkiv sets school record in 5000 meters
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Yuliya Stashkiv set a new school record in the 5000 meters Saturday night to highlight a solid day for the ACU men's and women's track and field teams at the Tyson Indoor Invitational at the Randal Tyson Indoor Complex.
Stashkiv finished third in the event in a time of 16:27.69, bettering the old mark of 16:28.50 by less than one second. The old mark was set in 1996 by former national champion Casi Florida.
On the men's side, Alexander posted the top time in the nation in the 60 meters, winning the race against an all-Division I field with a time of 6.63. His time is .03 better than defending national champion Jason Smoots of North Carolina Central.
Freshman Cory Aguilar bettered his pole vault mark with a jump of 16-0.75, moving from 12th in the nation to second. Freshman Delt Cockrell also bettered his provisional mark in the 400 meters, running a 48.01 to finish 13th in the event.
Bernard Manirakiza won the 800 meters with an automatic qualifying time of 1:50.41, which is the best time in the country. Martin O'Kello and Jean-Marie Ndukimana also posted provisionally qualifying times in the 800 meters.
Arthemon Sindayigaya won the 5000 meters with a provisional qualifying time of 14:33.24. Manirakiza also bettered his provisional qualifying time in the mile.
The men'x 4x400 relay team of Alexander, Aguilar, Cockrell and Ricardo Johnson posted a time of 3:12.25 (best in the nation and an automatic qualifying time) en route to a third-place finish, only to be informed Saturday that it had been disqualified. The judges ruled Alexander had taken more than three strides on the line, thereby disqualifying the Wildcats. However, no flag was raised and ACU head coach Jon Murray wasn't informed of the disqualification until Saturday.
On the women's side, Yuliya Stashkiv posted the nation's best time in the 5000 meters, winning the event with a time 16:27.69. Stashkiv – who also has the nation's best time in the mile – now has the best time in the 5000 meters by almost 45 seconds.
Sophomore pole vaulter Val Gorter went 12-2.00 to move into the No. 2 spot in the nation, while sophomore Katie Eckley posted a provisional qualifying mark of 11-8.00, which tied for fourth in the nation.
Lakeshia Finch also bettered her provisional mark in the triple jump with a jump of 40-0.00. The women's 4x400 relay team also moved into the No. 3 spot in the nation with a time of 3:48.66.
