The Park University men’s and women’s indoor track & field team began their 2019 indoor track season on Saturday, January 25, at the Pittsburg State University Invitational.

The event took place at the Robert W. Plaster Center and 1,200 athletes representing more than 40 NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA and NJCAA institutions were competing.

There were only two Pirates who qualified for the 2019 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships at this Invitational.

Aaliyah Brown continues to compete at a high level as she adds another national qualifying year, as the senior hit the ‘B’ standard, which means she hit the qualifying mark in the women’s shot put with a throw of 13.14-meter. That throw was good for 16th-place and qualifying for the NAIA National Championship. Brown also competed in the women’s weight throw, taking 23rd-place with a mark of 13.43 meter.

Imani Hutchinson had a great meet as well, qualifying for nationals in both the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash. She ran the 60-meter dash in a time of 7.72 seconds, while she ran the 200-meter dash in a time of 25.39 seconds.

Competing in the men 5,000 meter run, Brendan Briody, a sophomore from here in Parkville, finished the race with a time of 15:54.92.

Bailey Turner competed in the women’s long jump. Turner placed 10th with a jump of 5.35-meter. She also competed in the triple jump a jump of 10.87-meter.

Emma Kasap and Areka Hanson ran in the women’s 600 meter, as Kasap ran in 1:41.40 to finish 12th-place, as Hanson ran it in 1:45.53.

The Pirates indoor track and field team will be in action again on February 2, as they travel to Crete, Nebraska for the Fred Beile Invitational.

To view the full results from the event and the schedule for the men’s and women’s track team, go to www.parkathletics.com.