EMPORIA, Kan. (March 19, 2021) – Lawanda Harvey posted a pair of runner-up finishes in sprint events and Kelsey Castillo led a strong Oklahoma Christian showing in the 800 meters as the Eagles opened their outdoor track and field season on Friday at the Emporia State Spring Invitational at Welch Stadium.

Harvey, a senior from Frisco, Texas, finished second in both the 100 meters (12.18 seconds) and 200 meters (25.30 second). OC sophomore Bryah Davis of Cedar Hill, Texas, was fourth among 42 runners in the 100 (12.47 seconds) and sixth among 51 runners in the 200 (25.88). OC sprinters Atlanta Hopgood (eighth in 12.60 seconds) and Autumn Baldwin (14th in 13.02 seconds) also had strong showing in the 100 meters.

Five OC runners finished in the top 12 in the 31-woman field for the 800 meters. Castillo, a senior from Edmond, Okla., took third in 2:17.12, while junior Payton Duesing of Lantana, Texas, was fifth in 2:21.56. Juniors Kenya Bailey of Ponca City, Okla. (2:25.72), Emma Davison of Mason City, Iowa (2:25.75) and Caroline Schwab of Andover, Kan. (2:27.83) finished 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively.

Bailey also took sixth among 30 runners in the 1,500 meters in 4:53.51.

OC's top field-event performers were sophomore thrower Taelor Brown of Pawnee, Okla., and junior jumper Morgan Ray of Edmond, Okla. Brown placed 18th among 33 women in the hammer with a top throw of 125 feet, 9 inches (38.33 meters) and 11th among 21 women in the shot put at 37 feet, 8 inches (11.48 meters).

In the triple jump, Ray had a top effort of 33 feet, 5¼ inches (10.19 meters) to take sixth, while she was 16th among 27 in the long jump at 15 feet, 11 inches (4.85 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.