Busters Post Multiple Personal Bests, Mai Sets School Record in Emporia

Photo by: Adam Shrimplin/Garden City Athletics

Emporia, KS – The Garden City Community College track and field teams turned in a strong showing at the ESU Spring Open on March 27, highlighted by a record-breaking performance from Meryeme Mai and a series of personal-best efforts across both squads.

On the women's side, Meryeme Mai headlined the day with a historic run in the 1,500 meters, capturing a first-place finish in 4:38.98 while breaking the school record by 22 seconds. Madyson Schreibvogel made her collegiate debut in the 200 meters (27.05) and added a collegiate-best 1:02.19 in the 400 meters.

Jaquelyne Gonzalez posted a personal-best 20:14.30 in the 5,000 meters to place eighth, while Ally Stidham recorded a personal-best 31.31 in the 200 meters. In the field events, Monifa Edwards finished eighth in the discus (43.17m), and Halima Biggs delivered a personal-best leap of 5.02 meters in the long jump.

Additional performances included collegiate debuts from Maritza Romero in the 5,000 meters (21:31.90) and Marshea Fisher in the 400 meters (1:01.61), while Umahan Sahin added a personal-best 5:12.26 in the 1,500 meters.

On the men's side, Elias Mebitil led the distance group with a fourth-place finish in the 1,500 meters (4:00.89). Jerome Anderson clocked a personal-best 1:01.42 in the 400-meter hurdles, while Jon Woods placed seventh in the triple jump with a personal-best mark of 13.21 meters.

In the throws, Eyona Mangumta recorded a personal-best 48.14 meters in the hammer, and Kadan Ponder added a personal-best 13.75 meters in the shot put. Thaddaeus Rotich made his collegiate debut in the 1,500 meters, finishing in 4:14.19.

Garden City will continue its outdoor season on Friday, April 3, traveling to South Plains College in Levelland, Texas for its next competition.