CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- In terms of numbers, the Shawnee State women's track and field program may have not brought the most members of the contingent that took part in the Lee University Athletics Fast Break Invitational.
However, the two individuals that did compete for Conner Flynn's women's outdoor track and field program made their names, as well as SSU's, heard loud and clear from Southeast Tennessee all the way back to the hills of the Ohio Valley.
Shawnee State junior distance runner Olivia Cisco, who set her first NAIA National Championship qualifying time in this very event one season ago with a 37:32.79 to post a NAIA National 'B' Standard mark, ran a fantastic 36:44.10 to set a new personal best time of over 48 seconds in the event and punch her ticket to her second consecutive appearance at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships when the three-day event commences in late May.
In addition to Cisco, Shawnee State senior field athlete Jaina Bailey set a new personal best, school record, and meet-winning throw of 152 feet, three inches -- posting a PB that was three feet, and nearly one full meter, better than her previous personal standard and school record throw to cap a splendid day for the standout duo at the Lee Athletics Fast Break Invitational, which was held Friday evening at the Ray Conn Sports Complex at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn.
Olivia Cisco
Cisco, who clocked in under 37 minutes for the first time in her career in the event, consistently ran 400 meter splits of one minute, 28 seconds throughout much of the 10,000 meter run en route to showcasing impressive form from start to finish.
The junior closed with a 1:24 over the final 400 meters to compete a 10,000 meter run race where Cisco never left the top-seven of the 19-runner field with her performance from start to finish in the 10K Friday evening.
With her run, Cisco posted the ninth-fastest 10,000 meter time in the NAIA, and beat out nine NCAA Division II runners in the process of posting her 36:44.10. Of the nine NCAA Division II runners that Cisco beat out, seven of them are ranked inside the top-90 of the NCAA Division II realm, including two who posted times ranked inside the NCAA D-II's top-50.
Cisco's time competes what will now be four consecutive NAIA National Championship appearances -- as the junior previously qualified for the 2024 NAIA Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, the 2024 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships and the 2025 NAIA Women's Indoor Track and Field National Championships as well.
"Olivia qualifying for her fourth straight national championships speaks volumes for her consistency," Flynn, the Director of Cross Country and Track and Field, said. "I am excited to see how she builds on this as she prepares for the championships in May."
Jaina Bailey
Bailey, who has been electric from the outset of the season in the hammer, had already bettered her previous personal best on the fourth throw of Friday afternoon's hammer throw, throwing a 149-foot, eight-inch mark, or 45.63 meters, to set a new school mark.
However, Marian (Ind.)'s Nhaydia Watson bettered Bailey slightly with her 149-foot, 11-inch throw on her fourth try.
Bailey, however, responded on the final throw by posting a massive personal best, nabbing her 46.42-meter throw on the sixth and final attempt in a clutch performance that not only broke her own school record by nearly a meter and exactly three full feet, but won the event -- as Watson fouled on her last attempt to seal the deal.
Bailey ultimately outdueled 10 NCAA Division II competitors as well in the hammer throw en route to her meet-winning performance, which came against 15 competitors in all. Bailey's hammer throw mark is now ranked 29th in the NAIA.
"Jaina showing up on the last throw to clinch the win and a top-30 NAIA performance was great to see," Flynn said. "Placing first in a meet of this caliber is impressive."
Additional
The women's track and field program will be back in action Friday, April 18 when the Bears compete at the Otterbein Twilight Meet, which will be held in Westerville, Ohio.
