Morehead, Ky. – On Friday, four Eagles recorded top-10 finishes at the Morehead State men's and women's track and field teams' first meet featuring Ohio Valley Conference competition, the Bellarmine Open "Presented by Urban Shipper."

Lucy Singleton, Sierra Kelley, Laikin Tarlton and Kyle Embry, paced the squads at the event which took place at the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center in Louisville.

Morehead State's women finished in 11th place, while the men, participating for the first time this winter, claimed 13th.

"Overall I was pleased. I think the (women's) sprints need to work on closing their races, which is something we will address the next few weeks. The weather has been tough for the sprints to train properly in. (The women's) distance (group) is making the right strides," MSU coach Clay Dixon said. "(For the) men, I think we had a strong opener."

One unique feature of the facility was that it had a banked track. It was the first time the Eagles have run with an incline since Feb. 20, 2021.

"It can really change strategies. I think most people have run on a banked track except maybe two or three people. I think the track being banked attributed to Sierra getting cut off and Lucy getting boxed in with a lap to go," Dixon said. "You've got to change strategies a bit because the turns are tighter and you do not want to have to run in lane two or worse when passing someone since that can really add distance to your races."

Fresh off her victory and meet-record setting 600-meter performance at last Saturday's Marshall Classic, Singleton posted the teams' highest finish after taking third in the 800-meter run. The freshman, who was celebrating her 19th birthday, was just over a half-second out of second place. Xavier's Parker Hopkins won the race in 2:15.96, with Murray State's LaMiah Campbell (2:17.04), Singleton (2:17.67) and Murray State's Amirr Evans (2:17.87) clustered together in second through fourth.

"It was good to see Lucy run her second-fastest 800m ever and the fastest indoor for her ever," Dixon said. "She actually got boxed in by two Murray State runners with 200 (meters) to go, which really kept her from closing stronger. I honestly think she would have run a 2:16 easily if it wasn't for that mistake."

Kelley claimed sixth in the 400-meter dash in 1:02.81. Murray State's Maria Bangala won the event in 57.76.

"She got out really well, but her finish looked like it lacked that next gear," said Dixon. "I think that over the next few weeks we can address that with more speed-endurance specific workouts (that) we've got planned."

Tarlton clocked a 10:30.47 in the 3,000-meter run to take seventh. She was the second-fastest OVC racer in the 35-member field. Anna Lowry of Evansville won the event in 10:01.62.

"Laikin did well also. The 3000m was really close. If you look at it, there were four or five girls within two seconds or so," Dixon said. "She was actually in fourth most of the race, but she got passed up (in) the last 50 meters. She was even in striking distance of second place with about 400 (meters) to go. That was a big 'pr' for her."

Embry topped the Eagle men by placing eighth in the 48-runner 3000m competition. He crossed the line in 8:47.84, with Tennessee-Martin's Will Oglesby right on his heels in 8:48.70. About four and a half seconds separated fourth through ninth. IUPUI's Nate Kaiser won the race in 8:34.52.

"Kyle made a big move to place 8th overall and 'pr'," Dixon said.

The Eagles had their first relay entry on Friday, with the women's 4x400m quartet of Singleton, Dallas Jones, Kelley and Keana Meriwether, placing sixth in 4:20.00. Murray State's foursome claimed the title in 3:58.17.

"Our 4x400m relay looked strong," Dixon said. "Sierra was cut off with 75 meters to go and that cost her three or four seconds."

Rounding out the MSU women, Grace Lopez took 16th in the 60-meter dash (8.49) and 26th in the 200-meter dash. JD Camacho (30.40) and Tayla Lee (30.78), finished 31st and 33rd, respectively, in the latter event. Meriwether (11th in 1:05.94) and Jones (13th in 1:09.63) followed Kelley in the 400m. Riliegh Owens also was 11th (2:31.75) and Lilly Gray 13th (2:32.90) in the 800m.

Isabella Copher made her first appearance of the season running the mile. She placed 21st with a time of 5:29.55. Megan Bush was eight spots behind her in 29th, crossing the line in 5:44.08. Christiana Lytle was also entered in the event. In the meet's longest race, Hannah Hostetler notched 31st in the 3000m in 12:03.73.

"I think that was a 'pr' for Isabella too in the one mile," Dixon added.

The Eagle men were only entered in two events.

Junior Michael Dunagan led the MSU contingent in the mile placing 20th in 4:28.10 with Toby Cook was just a few spots back in 24th at 4:29.01. Wes Grogan finished in 31st in 4:32.73. Cruz Ortiz-Ramirez was 37th in 4:37.89, Austin Montgomery was 51st in 4:46.85, Sam Lucas was 57th in 4:56.48 and Alex Murray was 60th in 5:11.21.

Six Eagles finished behind Embry in the 3000m. Jacob Vogelpohl was 22nd in 9:06.48, Kyler Stewart was 28th in 9:12.92, Justin Bland was 30th in 9:21.49, Liam Dale was 32nd in 9:22.91, Jarrett Forrest was 33rd in 9:23.78 and Jonah Stanley was 43rd in 9:47.68.

"Most of the milers looked like they just didn't know how to race, which is expected since we haven't touched a track for any workouts yet," Dixon said. "I thought the 3000m runners looked like they were more comfortable. That makes sense seeing that's more towards our wheelhouses. … Jacob, Toby, Cruz and Wes had some impressive races."

Murray State won the women's meet with 188.50 points. Host Bellarmine was second with 58 points; followed by Southern Indiana (47.50); Centre (43); Xavier, Ohio (38); Northern Kentucky (36); Evansville (30); Campbellsville (24); Tennessee-Martin (21); Illinois-Springfield (17); MSU (15); IUPUI (14); Union, Ky. (10); and Cumberland, Tenn. (10).

Campbellsville captured the men's competition with 72.50 points, narrowly edging Cumberland (Tenn.) at 69, Bellarmine at 68 and Evansville at 65.50. Southern Indiana was fifth with 56 points; followed by Centre (54); Tennessee-Martin (49); IUPUI (45); Union, Ky. (30); Xavier, Ohio (25); Illinois-Springfield (12); Northern Kentucky (10) and Morehead State (one). The Eagle men were only entered in two events.

Both MSU squads will be back at the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center on Friday, Feb. 4 to compete in the PNC Bank Bellarmine Classic.