(Lebanon, IL. Feb. 12) – The McKendree University track and field teams traveled to Pittsburg, KS this weekend to compete in the Gorilla Classic, hosted by Pittsburg State University.

Sophomore Demontez McCray (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) paced the men's team with a pair of fifth place finishes. McCray finished in 6.87 seconds in the 60-meter, hitting an NCAA Provisional Qualifying Standard and matching his season best time. McCray followed with a time of 21.66 seconds in the 200-meter, which also hit a provisional standard and was just .06 seconds shy of his season best time.

The Bearcats distance medley team of sophomores Andrew Gardewine (Effingham, IL/Effingham), Trevor White (Highland, IL/Highland), Tyler Johnson (South Holland, IL/St. Rita), and Joe Shannon (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) took seventh place with a time of 10:20.43, which ranks third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference this season.

In the field sophomore Lafayette Waters (Murrieta, CA/Murrieta Valley) launched 6.80-meters in the long jump to nab eighth place. His mark currently places him sixth in the conference thus far.
Sophomore Monte Wolke (Sigel, IL/Cumberland) placed sixth in the pole vault with a height of 4.38-meters and junior Ryan Pearce (Villa Grove, IL/Villa Grove) took home eighth in the shot put after a heave of 15.47-meters.

The women's team was paced by sophomore Quincy McSweeney (Eureka, IL/Eureka) who put in a top ten time in the 400-meter with a time of 58.05 seconds that ranks sixth in the GLVC.
The McKendree distance medley team of McSweeney, senior Karis Johnson (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence Central), sophomore Tatianna Nieves, and freshman Shayna Phillips (Effingham, Il/Effingham) took home seventh place with a time of 12:30.33.

In the field freshman Shelby Mourey (Greenfield, IN/Eastern Hancock ) landed in fourth place in the high jump with a height of 1.57-meters that currently ranks her fifth in the conference. Junior Ciara Jones (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) placed tenth in the triple jump with a mark of 11.48-meters.

The Bearcats return to action Feb. 17 in Jacksonville, IL in the last meet for McKendree before the GLVC Indoor Championships on Feb. 25.