BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- A total of 10 school records – four women's and six men's - were set on Saturday as the Mississippi University for Women track and field teams competed at the Samford University Bulldog Open at the Crossplex. It was the final tune-up for the Owls, prior to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) indoor championships on February 24 at Elsah, Illinois.
 
Sophomore Jourden Whitfield (Sulligent, Ala.) had a hand – rather, feet – in four of the half-dozen new standards established on the men's side. In the 60-meter dash, Whitfield ran a 7.26 seconds time, just undercutting the previous mark of 7.28 set by teammate Dedrick Gates. Whitfield took aim at another record also previously held by Gates in the 200 meters, turning in a time of 22.79 seconds (was 23.17).
 
In the 400 meters, Whitfield bested his own MUW record in a time of 51.16, lopping off better than two full seconds (53.42).
 
Whitfield also led off The W's 4x400-meter relay, which crossed the line at 3:39.81 minutes. The quartet – also consisting of Tavonta Macon, Kobe Smith, and Gates – smashed the previous best of 3:55.92 set in 2023.
 
Freshman Allen Fields (Saltillo, Miss.) had the Owls' other record on the track. In the 60-meter hurdles, Fields was timed at 9.67 seconds.
 
In men's field events, junior Tanner Collins (Sulligent, Ala.) continued to push the men's shot put mark further. At the Bulldog Open, Collins had a school - and personal - record heave of 12.26 meters on his final toss of the day.
 
For the MUW women, freshman distance standout Hannah Owens (Olive Branch, Miss.) made her indoor debut (after earning all-SLIAC honors in cross country in the fall). And she made quite an inaugural appearance, earning school records in both the mile and 3,000-meter races. In the mile, Owens slashed more than 29 seconds off of the previous record by booking a time of 6:18.50 (was 6:47.65).
 
In the 3,000, Owens hit the finish tape in a grueling time of 12:35.20 minutes.
 
Junior sprinter Michaiah Adams (Tupelo, Miss.) lowered her own record in the 200 meters, running a 26.78 seconds. Her previous best was 27.17, set on the same track last season.
 
Freshman Arie'Onna McCollum extended her school record heave in the women's shot put, as well. McCollum's toss of 9.93 meters improved upon her MUW mark (9.50m), set three weeks ago at the same facility.