Shippensburg University’s indoor track and field teams returned to action this weekend at the Gulden Invitational at Bucknell University. The men’s team getting four event wins and placing second of six schools, and the women’s team picking up three event wins to come third of seven schools.

Senior Josh Herbster made Shippensburg history in the weight throw, setting a new school record of 19.41 meters. The record had been held by Chris Nelson since 2014, but Herbster beat Nelson’s throw by 0.23 meters. Herbster placed second in the event but put up a distance good enough to provisionally qualify for nationals.

The men’s team picked up a pair of wins on the field. Junior Mo Whittle placed first in the triple jump at 46 feet and 4.75 inches, his second win in the event this season. Whittle also placed second in the long jump, with the pair of results earning him Field Event MVP. Additionally, Senior Kenny Rhyne got getting his first high jump win of the season at 2.00 meters. 

Freshman Lavar Jackson backed up his Bison Opener performance with another win in the 60-meter dash, securing first place with a time of 6.85 seconds. Senior Drew Dailey finished the 1000-meter dash with a time of 2:32.08, winning a close race that saw the top 3 finish just 0.22 seconds apart.

Senior Leah Graybill was the standout for the women’s team, winning two track events. She won the 60-meter dash at 7.60 seconds, winning by a tenth. Graybill then picked up a victory in the 200-meter dash, coming out on top of a crowded field of 45 runners with a time of 24.86 seconds.

Junior Sasha Lee picked up a win in the triple jump with a distance of 11.86 meters. It was her second event win of the season, allowing the Raiders to sweep the triple jump events.

Both teams’ 4x400 meter relay groups podiumed in their events. The men’s team of senior Eric Kirk, Jackson, freshman Bernard Bell III and junior Mason Boyd placing second at 3:23.73, while the women’s team of sophomore Alyssa Wert, junior Aliyah Serrano, Graybill and junior Caroline Mastria placed third at 4:05.07.

Both teams will travel back to Bucknell this weekend for the two-day Bison Open & Multi. Events begin Friday at 4 p.m., with the event resuming Saturday at 11 a.m.

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