PSU track and field to hold Indoor Gorilla Classic today, Saturday

(From Pittsburg State University Athletics)

The Pittsburg State University men's and women's indoor track & field teams will host the Second Annual Indoor Gorilla Classic Friday and Saturday (Feb. 10-11) at the Robert W. Plaster Center.

Friday's action will begin at 2 p.m. (CST), while Saturday's competition with start at 10:30 a.m.

Approximately 50 schools – ranging from the junior college ranks to the NAIA as well as NCAA Division I and II programs – will combine to send as estimated 1,400 athletes to the two-day meet. MIAA rivals Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma, Emporia State, Lindenwood, Missouri Southern and Southwest Baptist all will compete in the meet. Other notable Division II entries incude Colorado State-Pueblo, Harding, Missouri S&T, Texas A&M-Commerce, Western State and William Jewell. Division I members Creighton, Missouri State, Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), Northwestern (La.) State, Tulsa and Wichita State also will send athletes.

The women's field will include five Division II programs ranked in the most recent USTFCCCA Top 25 poll: No. 3 Pitt State, No. 8 Western State, No. 9 Central Missouri, No. 18 Southwest Baptist and No. 23 CSU-Pueblo. The men's field includes six top 25 squads: No. 6 CSU-Pueblo, No. 10 Pitt State, No. 14 Emporia State, No. 15 UCM, No. 17 Western State and No. 20 Texas A&M-Commerce.

Several Division II athletes ranked in the top 10 nationally in individual event disciplines will compete this weekend.

In the men's action, the pole vault will feature three top 10 athletes – UCM's Cole Phllips (17-7, 3rd), Pitt State's Kai Miller (16-8.75, 4th) and Colo. Mines Jake Pinkston (16-5.25, 9th). The 800 meters will include CSU-Pueblo's Dante Carter (1:50.37, 4th) and ESU's Thomas LaRoche (1:50.72, 6th). William Jewell's Blake Alexander is ranked No. 4 in the 60 meter hurdles (7.97), while TAMUC's DeVontae Steele is ranked No. 6 in the triple jump. Pitt State's Derek McKnight is ranked No. 9 in the shot put (56-8.5).

In the women's action, the shot put will feature a pair of top 10 athletes in Pitt State's Jasmine Smith (51-1.75, 3rd) and Jena Black (48-11, 7th). UCM's Brittany Kallenberger will compete in the pole vault (13-1.5, 3rd), while CSU-Pueblo's Tatianna Clanton will compete in the long jump (19-1.25, 6th). Pitt State's Emilee Iverson will compete in the high jump (5-7.25, 9th) and the Gorillas' Emilyn Dearman will race in the 60 meter hurdles (8.60, 8th).