Rono and Richardson win in Waco

ABILENE -- Sophomores Irene Rono and Tyler Richardson were event champions this weekend at the Baylor-hosted Michael Johnson Invitational.

Rono Friday night won her sixth race of the 2020-21 school year, defeating 31 competitors in the 5,000-meter run with a stadium record time of 16:22.87. Her time was .25 seconds ahead of runner-up Texas junior Madeline Vondra and a personal record that shot her up to No. 2 on the school's all-time performer list.

Alexandria Hackett remains the school record holder in the 5K with a time of 16:03.83, which she set this weekend five years ago in Norwalk, Calif.

Richardson's victory came in the premier shot put, which was his first win outside the Southland Conference Championships and third of his collegiate career. His PR distance of 17.72m (58-01.75) was recorded on his sixth and final attempt to beat Baylor sophomore Nicholas Hardan by .04m (1.50 inches). This premier field also included competitors from Texas, Texas Tech and Kansas.

For the weekend ACU's student-athletes registered 14 personal records and had four additions to the record book. Pole vaulter Mackenzie West Knight climbed to No. 9 with her runner-up height of 3.76m (12-4) and senior thrower Thomas Wilson also landed in the ninth spot with his Friday night hammer toss of 55.09m (180-9). Saturday sprinter Taylor Tolen cracked the top-10 in the 100m dash with her seventh-place wind-legal time of 11.66 seconds.

Both 4x400-meter relays recorded season bests to close the meet. The men's team of Avery Williams, Jared Williams, Jack Marshall, Ethan Christian placed seventh in 3:13.91, and the women's quartet of Noriyah Johnson, Rylee Jordan, Savannah Walker, Mya Henson posted a time of 3:50.10.

The Wildcats return to action Wednesday for the annual Oliver Jackson Twilight meet.
 

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ACU results at the 2021 Michael Johnson Invitational

Friday Events
Men's 1500m Run
20. Cooper Goggans - 4:00.56 (PR)
26. Daniel Campos - 4:06.96 (PR)
29. Luke Hernandez - 4:11.97 (PR)

Men's 5,000m Run
19. Levi Chambers - 15:11.71
21. Maxwel Kiplagat - 15:16.13
25. Kevin Kipkosgei - 15:27.83 (PR)
28. Denis Lagat - 15:48.57
29. Conner Miller - 15:55.45

Women's 5,000m Run
1. Irene Rono - 16:22.87 (PR and No. 2 ranked all-time performer at ACU)
12. Prudence Kiyeng - 17:31.78 (PR)
15. Briahna Gerlach - 17:48.93
22. Sarah Wagler - 18:21.41
28. Hannah Marut - 19:06.40

Men's Pole Vault
11. Grant Baker - 4.71m / 15-05.50
13. Ross Dean - 4.51m / 14-09.50

Women's Pole Vault
2. Mackenzie West Knight - 3.76m / 12-4.00 (PR and No. 9 ranked all-time performer at ACU)
5. Payton Kirk - 3.61m / 11-10.00
9. Kaydi Pursley - 3.41m / 11-2.25

Men's Hammer
9. Thomas Wilson - 55.09m / 180-09 (PR and No. 9 ranked all-time performer at ACU)
16. Tyler Richardson - 50.07m / 164-03

Women's Hammer
8. Taylor McCoy - 50.20 / 164-08 (PR)

Women's Javelin
23. Taylor McCoy - 30.94m / 101-06
 

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Saturday Events
Men's 100m dash
16. Le'Gari Daniels - 10.91 (2.1w)
17. Addison Franklin - 10.93 (2.1w)
18. William Harris - 10.98 (2.1w)

Women's 100m dash
7. Taylor Tolen - 11.66 (1.2w) (PR and No. 9 all-time performer at ACU)

Men's 200m dash
9. Jack Marshall - 21.34 (0.8w)
25. Addison Franklin - 22.10 (0.9w)
30. William Harris - 22.90 (0.9w)

Women's 200m dash
11. Taylor Tolen - 24.57 (1.0w)
15. Savannah Walker - 24.88 (1.0w) (PR)
20. Amy Ambelang - 25.56 (0.9w)
21. Mya Henson - 25.75 (0.9w)

Men's 400m dash
11. Avery Williams - 47.98
14. Jared Williams - 48.30

Women's 400m dash
19. Noriyah Johnson - 57.31
25. Rylee Jordan - 58.58

Women's 100m hurdles
21. Megan Kirby - 14.55 (2.1w)
24. Amy Abelang - 14.88 (3.8w)
26. Janae Phoenix - 14.96 (3.8w)
27. Payton Kirk - 14.99 (1.3w)
34. Kaydi Pursley- 16.56 (1.3w)

Men's 110m hurdles
5. Jamal January - 14.28 (1.3w)
6. Harrison Manuel - 14.38 (1.3w)
10. JJ Ply - 14.67 (1.3w)
15. Jeremy King - 14.85 (1.8w)
16. Ryan Bornemeier - 15.01 (1.2w) (PR)

Women's 400m Hurdles
18. Courtney Latham - 1:05.69

Men's 400m Hurdles
15. Jeremy King - 55.94
16. Jimmie Horton - 56.00
17. Jamal January - 56.20
18. Harrison Manuel - 56.54

Men's 3,000m Steeplechase 
2. Maxwel Kiplagat - 9:23.79 (PR)
4. Cooper Goggans - 9:40.15
5. Gabe Embree - 10:02.55

Men's 4x400m Relay
7. Avery Williams, Jared Williams, Jack Marshall, Ethan Christian - 3:13.91 (SB)
10. Jimmie Horton, Cole Palka, Ryan Bornemeier, Jamal January - 3:24.62 

Women's 4x400m Relay
10. Noriyah Johnson, Rylee Jordan, Savannah Walker, Mya Henson - 3:50.10 (SB)
11. Janae Phoenix, Payton Kirk, Courtney Latham, Amy Ambelang - 3:51.26

Men's Long Jump
8. William Harris - 7.16m / 23-6.00 (3.5w) (PR)
12. JJ Ply - 6.73m / 22-01.00 (1.9w)
15. Ryan Bornemeier - 6.66m / 21-10.25 (2.4w)

Women's Long Jump
9. Megan Kirby - 5.78m / 18-11.75 (4.0w)
19. Amy Ambelang - 5.41m / 17-09.00 (3.0w)
22. Payton Kirk - 5.31m / 17-05.25 (3.0w)

Women's High Jump
4. Zoe Spinn - 1.71m / 5-07.25

Women's Triple Jump
4. Ella Anttila - 12.72m / 41-08.75

Men's Shot Put Premier
1. Tyler Richardson - 17.72m / 58-01.75 (PR)

Men's Discus
6. Thomas Wilson - 51.39m / 168-07
10. Tyler Richardson - 46.72m / 153-03