ROCKTON, IL – The Beloit College track and field teams signaled the start of a promising indoor season this past weekend, delivering a statement performance at the Beloit College Opener held at the Hononegah High School Fieldhouse. Competing against regional rival Carroll University, the Buccaneers showcased a lethal combination of veteran leadership and emerging depth, securing a string of top finishes and clean sweeps across both track and field events.
The momentum was established early as Beloit's relay units dominated the 4x200 meter events. The men's "A" squad crossed the line in 1:36.97 to take gold, followed closely by the "B" team at 1:48.30. The women mirrored this success, with their lead team posting a winning time of 1:57.86, while the secondary squad secured a 2:21.62 finish to ensure a total podium lock for Beloit in the relay categories.
Individual performances were headlined by standout efforts from Josh Yearby (West Park, FL) and Kembre Daniel (Chicago, Ill.), who together accounted for four event titles.[1]
Yearby proved he is the man to beat in the short sprints, sweeping the 60 meter dash (6.93) and the 200 meter dast (22.37. His sub-7-second performance in the 60m is the second fastest in the MWC this season.
Meanwhile, Daniel demonstrated remarkable versatility in the middle-distance events. Daniel captured the 300 meter dash with a time of 38.53 before returning to the track to grind out a victory in the 600 meter run (1:26.80). His ability to maintain top-end speed over longer intervals provided a major momentum boost for the Buccaneers as the meet progressed.
Beloit's success wasn't limited to the lanes. The field events saw a significant surge for the Bucs, particularly in the Men's Long Jump, where John Deary II (Westwego, LA) soared to a first-place finish with a mark of 6.45m. Deary's victory was supported by teammate Andrew Arhebun (Chicago, Ill.), who took third (6.01m), and Izzy Zewdie (Las Vegas, Nev.), who finished fourth (5.89m), effectively shutting out the competition in the sandpit.
In the high jump, Nate Otis (Shoreview, Minn.) continued his consistent form, clearing 1.75m to take second place, while also adding a third-place finish in the 200m dash (23.63).
On the women's side, Cole Miller (Salem, Ore.) highlighted the individual track events by winning the 600 meter dash in 1:52.82 leading the Beloit Charge. In the women's mile, Simone de Montigny (Neenah, Wis.) grabbed a second place finish, with a time of 5:56 flat.
Off the track, Naomi Murphy (Dubuque, Iowa) captured first in the women's high jump, clearing the 1.35m mark.
The Beloit College Opener served as more than just a season-debut; it was a demonstration of the Buccaneers' readiness to compete within the MWC this season. With the relays establishing an early lead and stars like Yearby and Daniel sustaining that energy through the individual events, Beloit enters the heart of the indoor season with significant wind in their sails.
The Buccaneers are back in action on Saturday, December 17th at the Ripon Dual. Action from the Willmore Center in Ripon, Wisconsin is set to start at 11 am.
