Racers Set 4X400 & 800M Record at Music City Challenge

Friday, February 14

Nashville, Tenn.

Murray State

Music City Challenge

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

Racers Set 4X400 & 800M Record at Music City Challenge

2/16/2025 10:41:00 AM | Women's Track and Field

Music City Results SIU Results

The Racers’ next challenge is the Missouri Valley Championships in Chicago (March 2-3)

The Murray State women's track & field team turned in another program record in the 4X400M Relay and first place postings from Kayla Bell, DiamonAsia Taylor and Jaiden Knoop in the 800 meters, high jump and pole vault at the Music City Challenge Friday at Vanderbilt's David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center.

The Racers also sent a contingent to Carbondale, Illinois to compete in the SIU Don DeNoon Invite.

"Overall I think we had a great end to the regular season," said MSU Coach Adam Kiesler. "Throughout the year the kids work and work to put things together and for a lot of them it clicked this weekend. As a team we always focus on conference and in the mean time someone or a relay can contend for a spot at nationals that is amazing and that is what Kayla did Saturday. She ran a massive personal best and is now sitting 17th in the country. It was for us and everyone at the meet saw it. The 4x400 dropped another big chunk off their time to be ranked 21st. The amount of PRs and people moving up the MVC list was also encouraging. With Chicago around the corner we look forward to competing against the rest of the Missouri Valley Conference."

In Nashville, the Racers lowered their MSU record in the 4X400M Relay to 3:35.54, the third time this indoor season in which they have shaved time off the record. MSU's team consists of Chelby & Cheyenne Melvin, Simone Joseph and Kayla Bell. Their time is first this season in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Racers went 1&2 in the 800M Run, when Kayla Bell won the 800M Run with a MSU record time of 2:02.99 and teammate Cheyenne Melvin had a time of 2:06.69, which also broke Bell's former record. Bell's effort gives her the No. 17 time in the nation and Melvin's time is No. 78.

Taylor hit a leap of 1.76M to win the High Jump competition and Knoop's height in the Pole Vault was 3.72M.

The events were MSU's final before the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships (March 2-3) in Chicago.

For more information on the Murray State track and field team, visit GoRacers.com or follow @RacersXCTF on Instagram and X.

Music City Challenge Notes

MSU's Distance Medley relay team of Chloe Wood, Andrea Segovia, Karrington Edwards & Ruth Kimutai placed sixth with a time of 12:20.52.
Serena Blackwood was seventh in the 60M Run at 7.51.
Amahrie Harsh placed fourth with a time of 56.05 in the 200M Run.
Chelby Melvin finished sixth in the 400M Run at 55.47 and Simone Joseph was ninth at 55.95.
Presley Gallimore turned in a second place showing in the 600M Run with a time of 1:35.86.
Lindley Johnston placed eighth in the High Jump at 1.60M.
Tayla Tootle was eighth in the Pole Vault at 3.57M.

SIUC Don DeNoon Invite Notes

Lilly West and Karysn Potter went second and third in the weight throw.
Kylie Gormann, Skyler Libel and Emily Wagoner were 4-5-6 in the Long Jump.
Katie Schneider was third in the Pole Vault at 3.65M.
LIbel was 3rd in the Triple Jump at 10.88M.
Scarlette Sterling won the 400M Run at 1:00.97, while Abby Yanka and Emily Waonger were 4th and 5th.
Kinsey Huber was second in the 60M Dash at 7.78.
Laura Seeberger, Yanka and Wagoner were 2-3-4 in the 60M Hurdles.