North Central Missouri College’s track and field team turned in a competitive showing in the University of Central Missouri Mule Relays, with several athletes delivering standout performances against a strong field.

In the javelin, Laney placed 19th with a throw of 30 meters. The mark represented continued progress as she works back from an injury that affected her senior year.

The high jump group also had a strong meet. Allise Perkins finished fourth while Genesis Bethea placed second overall. Both athletes turned in consistent performances and continued to provide key points for the Pirates.

Nate Giffin showed resilience over the two-day meet. After placing ninth in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.45 meters on the opening day, he responded with a strong effort in the 400 meters on day two. Giffin ran a personal-best time of 50.01 seconds to finish seventh overall.

“Nate has worked super hard all season and it’s showing. To bounce back the way he did after a tough day in the vault speaks to his mentality and growth. He’s getting better each week, and this performance is just the beginning of what he’s capable of,” coach Taylor Francis said.

On the women’s sprint side, Jamari Ervin led the way with strong performances in both the 100- and 200-meter races. She placed fourth in the 100 meters, running a lifetime-best 12.26 seconds in the preliminaries before posting a 12.48 in the finals. Ervin also recorded a personal-best 26.49 in the 200 meters to cap the meet.

“Jamari had an outstanding meet. To come out and run a lifetime best in the prelims and then double back with another strong race in the finals shows her competitiveness. Adding a PR in the 200 on top of that really highlights the work she’s been putting in. She’s stepping into a big role for us,” Francis said.

Overall, the Pirates used the UCM Mule Relays as another step forward in building momentum and refining performances as the outdoor season continues.