BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford track and field teams hosted the Samford Invite and Open, at the Birmingham Crossplex with a flurry of record-setting and podium performances. Highlighted by new meet records from Bradley Franklin in the men's 60-meter hurdles and Zephaniah Carico-McLennan in the men's 800 meters, the Bulldogs came away with multiple event titles, personal bests, and top NCAA Division I rankings.
The event started with the multi-groups with the men's heptathlon and the women's pentathlon. Kiersten Bell was the top performer for the Dogs on the women's side, finishing eighth while Ben Thomason came in second and Garner Ezell finished in fifth.
The field events set the tone, beginning with Jaggerd Moore winning the men's high jump at 2.07 meters, matching his teammate Arthur Chitty who finished second. Moore's jump now ranks No. 51 in the NCAA and No. 37 in Division I. Dorsey Parker took second place in the women's high jump, by clearing 1.71 meters. In the women's long jump, Ellison Chadwick soared to first place with a leap of 6.03 meters, while Kiera-Lee Abrahams claimed second and Lane Scales took fourth, the latter also notching a personal record. Kyndall Brundidge finished third in the women's triple jump with a personal best of 12.00 meters, vaulting to No. 87 in the NCAA and No. 75 in Division I. In the men's long jump, freshman Jack Stubbs got on the podium by finishing in third with a mark of 7.01 meters.
On the track, Bradley Franklin turned in a historic performance, setting a Samford Invitational record in the men's 60-meter hurdles with a blazing 7.60 in the final after easily winning the prelims. His time is the fastest in the world in the event so far this season. Zephaniah Carico-McLennan seized the men's 800-meter crown in 1:49.61, also a meet record and good for No. 9 in the NCAA. In the women's 800 meters, Jessica Edwards clinched first place in 2:08.05, earning a top 10 national spot. Felicity Hamilton posted a personal best 4:54.95 in the women's mile, landing second and slotting into the Division I top 54. Cole Grande took second in the men's 400m while Arthur Langley and Will Jordan came in third and fourth in the men's 3000m. The Dogs came in second in the men's and women's 4x400m relay, only behind Mississippi State in both races.
After the Bulldog's strong showing, they will return to the CrossPlex on Feb. 1 at the South Alabama Invite.
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