T&F’s Conacher Wins Pole Vault at Tiger Paw Invitational

Friday, February 10

Clemson, S.C.

All Day

Baylor

Tiger Paw Invitational

T&F’s Conacher Wins Pole Vault at Tiger Paw Invitational

2/11/2023 4:57:00 PM | Track & Field

Results Valentine Invitational Results

Hardan, Day set school records on Saturday

CLEMSON, S.C. – Baylor track and field wrapped up the regular portion of the 2023 indoor season on Saturday at the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson. Ben Conacher won the lone gold medal for the Bears on the weekend in South Carolina, while Cole Hardan reset his own school record in the shot put.

In Boston, Ryan Day recorded an 8:03.92 in the 3,000 meters to finish 60th overall and break the school record that stood since Brian Keim ran an 8:06 in Oklahoma City during the 1995 season. This race marks the first 3k for Day since the 2022 Big 12 Indoor Championships, where he recorded a then-PR of 8:16.40.

In the 5,000 meters, Ryan Hodge ran a 14:17.81 to place fourth all-time on the BU program record list and Drew Snyder ran a 14:47.23 to finish 153^rd overall.

THE RUNDOWN
Conacher won gold for the Bears after crossing 17-5 ½ in a jump off after tying with Texas A&M's Zach Davis. Saturday's mark is just over two inches shy of his personal best. Chandlar Ifft crossed 15-3 ¾ in the unseeded portion of the men's pole vault, finishing eighth.

Hardan hit the program shot put record for the second time this season with a new PB of 61-3. With that mark, Hardan holds four of the top-10 throws in program history. Freshman Gary Moore Jr. threw for 54-11 ½ on the day to finish 13^th and Cooper Mack followed in 19^th.

Sophia Leidner finished the women's seeded section of the 3,000 meters with a 9:45.15 for second place. Cate Urbani followed in seventh with an even 10-minute mark.

Koi Johnson hit a new personal best in the triple jump on Saturday, finishing seventh with a 42-10 ¾ jump. Freshman Aren Spencer recorded his best indoor jump in the event at 48-5 ¼ by just over an inch.

Saturday morning began with Makayla Long throwing a personal-best in the shot put with a mark of 50-10. That improves her all-time No. 3 mark and placed her 11^th in the event.

The 4x400 women's squad finished in ninth place with a 3:34.46 behind Mariah Ayers, Imaobong Uko, Gontse Morake and Lily Williams. The men's crew ran the fifth-fastest 4x400 of all-time with a 3:04.40. Matthew Moorer, Hasani Barr, Nathaniel Ezekiel and Dillion Bedell passed the baton on Saturday and finished sixth.

Ayers led the women in the 200 meters, finishing 17^th with a 23.50, followed by Kavia Francis in 34^th after a 23.92-second race. In the men's 200, Demar Francis clocked a 20.85-second race to finish 11^th in the event. The next Bear to cross was Moorer at 21.16, followed by Ricquan Graham in 33^rd and Eli Morris in 67^th.

QUOTABLE
Head coach Michael Ford
On the team's performance on Friday…
"We got some great things accomplished in the field events today. Cole Hardan's big throw and new school record and Makayla Long's toss in the shot put was huge. I was pleased with Koi [Johnson] in triple jump, with a new season best and personal best. Ben Conacher in the pole vault was special too. I thought we could've executed better in the 200, but we will work to get those ready for conference. I was happy with the relays, both the men and women, considering we had to make to last minute changes. Time to rest up, practice and prepare for the Big 12 Championships."

WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor begins the postseason at Texas Tech's Sports Performance Center for the Big 12 Conference Championships, Feb. 24-25.

- BaylorBears.com -