Mounties Break 2 Records at Spokane Indoor Challenge
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from Eastern Oregon University) Eastern Oregon Track and Field continued its strong start to the 2022-23 indoor season breaking two records at the Spokane Indoor Challenge on Friday and Saturday. Morgan Bayes got things started setting a new EOU record for the women’s 60-meter hurdles posting a time of 9.02. Later in the day Michelle Herbes etched her name at the top of the EOU record book in the 1 mile with a time of 5:05.67. On the men’s side the highlight came from Israel Miles who posted an EOU program top-10 time and narrowly missed an NAIA B standard time in the men’s 60 meter hurdles.
Women
The women had a standout day at the Spokane Indoor Challenge on Saturday. Leading the way were the record-setters Bayes and Herbes.
Bayes came into the day with a PR of 9.43 in the 60-meter hurdles. She blew her personal record out of the water running a 9.27 in the prelims to start the day. She then followed that up with a record-breaking time of 9.03 in the second round. If that wasn’t good enough, she decided to shave a hundredth of a second off in the finals finishing with a time of 9.02 for good measure. Her time was good for a “B” Standard (under 9.10 seconds). Bayes’ record time replaces the old 60-meter hurdles record set by Paige Dodd in 2019.
“It was an impressive series of races by the senior from Adrian, Oregon,” head coach Ben Welch said.
A few moments later Michelle Herbes got in on the action breaking the women’s record in the mile. Herbes just missed an “A” Standard time (5:05.50) posting a time of 5:05.67 which was good for a “B” standard time and the best time in EOU program history. Herbes’ time broke the old record set by Korinda Godwin in 2004.
Also making some noise for the women was Maggie Ledbetter and Yahaira Chavarria-Mondragon. Maggie Ledbetter hit a “B” Standard throw of 42 feet and 11 inches in the women’s shot put. While it didn’t break her own record set in 2020 it still ranks top-5 in program history.
Chavarria-Mondragon made a splash in her return to the track competing for the first time since her freshman year. She posted the seventh best time in program history in the 60-meter sprint at 8.00. Her eight second flat time cut .35 seconds off her personal record from her freshman year.
Men
On the men’s side two names stole the show. Israel Miles led the way on the track recording the fourth fastest time in program history. Miles posted a time of 8.57 in the prelims to earn a spot in the next round. In his second race Miles narrowly missed a “B” Standard time (8.38 seconds) finishing in 8.43.
In the throws, it was once again Tanner Nett putting together a big performance. The sophomore finished fifth overall with a throw of 49 feet and 2½ inches in the shot put. While Nett broke the record in the first meet of the year with a throw of 52 feet 10¾ inches earning an “A” standard mark, his mark today still ranks in the top-5 in program history.
For full results click here.
