EMPORIA, Kan. (March 19, 2021) – Brady Aderholt and Alex Samples each recorded a top-five event finish as Oklahoma Christian opened its outdoor track and field season on Friday in the Emporia State Spring Invitational at Welch Stadium.

Aderholt, a senior from Vernon, Texas, placed fourth out of 32 runners in the 800 meters in 1:57.09, while teammate Austin McNair, a sophomore from Denton, Texas, was sixth in 1:59.16.

Samples, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., posted a top mark of 6 feet, 4¾ inches (1.95 meters) in the high jump to take fourth out of nine competitors.

OC had strong performers in all three sprint events. Verrell McBride, a junior from Norman, Okla., was eighth among 36 men in the 100 meters (10.83 seconds) and seventh among 41 in the 200 meters (21.81 seconds) while freshman Camden Miller of Sand Springs, Okla., took sixth among 27 in the 400 meters in 51.04 seconds.

OC thrower Jonathan Olsson, a junior who's from Emporia, competed in three field events. He finished 10th among 21 in the shot put at 46 feet, 7½ inches (14.21 meters), 15th among 24 in the javelin at 153 feet, 3 inches (46.73 meters) and 21st among 28 in the hammer at 132 feet, 10 inches (40.50 meters).

The Eagles will return to action next week, spread over several meets, including the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas, the Texas State Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas, and the Oklahoma Baptist Invitational in Shawnee.