Kansas City
Missouri Invitational
Kansas City Braces for Back-To-Back Stretch of Meets This Weekend
2/6/2025 1:47:00 PM | Track and Field
Roos set to compete on Friday in the Missouri Invitational, Saturday in the Iowa State Classic
After a collectively successful outing in the Washburn Open, Kansas City Track & Field looks to keep the good times rolling in the Missouri Invitational and Iowa State Classic this weekend. The Roos will return to Columbia, Mo. on Friday afternoon, a place where KC has seen several school records broken this indoor season. The following day, a smaller crew for the Roos will travel to Ames, IA. where KC tries their luck in Ames, IA. for the second time this season.Â
Last time out, Kansas City excelled in sprints and jumps at the Washburn Open. Stephen Clunis notched yet another fantastic time in the 60m dash, darting forward at a 6.71 time to place second in the event. Stephen Brown and Junior Powell also placed in the top 10, registering times of 6.74 and 6.82 respectively. Additionally, Jaleesa McWashington claimed two top five placements to her name, coming in second in the triple jump with a mark of 11.64 meters and running an 8.69 time in the 60-meter hurdles to nab fifth place overall.Â
Roos To WatchÂ
- Ceyda Bayur - Bayur has undoubtedly been one of the stars of the show on the women's side for the Roos. With six top 10 placements this season, Bayur has showcased her talents on the track in the 600m-1000m range this indoor season. Bayur is set to compete in the mile run at the Missouri Invitational and the 800m dash at the Iowa State Classic this weekend. So far this season, Bayur has recorded 800m times of 2:18.23 at the Show-Me-Showdown and 2:17.53 at the Washburn Open.Â
- McKenna Hood - Hood has seen a strong first collegiate campaign as a freshman, running in both the 600 and 800-meter dash so far this season. Hood ran a 1:43.50 in the 600m at the ISU Holiday Invitational and a 1:43.47 in the 600m at the Alexis Jarrett Invitational in January. In the 800m, Hood ran a 2:27.98 at the Show-Me-Showdown and a 2:24.10 at the Washburn Open. Hood will run in the one mile race at the Missouri Invitational this weekend.Â
- Harper Barlow - Barlow made her 2025 indoor season debut at the Washburn Open, running a 12:49.48 in the DMR to place ninth in the event. Before this last meet, Barlow came off a strong sophomore season in cross county where she career-bests in the 5K and 6K races. Barlow ran a 20:37.8 in the Bob Timmons Classic 5K race and a 22:52.9 in the Gans Creek Classic 6K race. This weekend, Barlow will run in the one mile run alongside Hood and Bayur for KC.Â
- Stephen Brown - Brown has been one of the Roos top men's sprinters this indoor season, placing in the top five twice in the 60-meter dash. Brown's best showing came this past weekend at the Washburn Open where Brown nearly equalled a career best, running an 6.74 second time in the 60m to place fourth best in the event. Brown has also been excellent in the 200-meter dash, setting a then school record 21.57 time that was broken in the next heat by teammate Tory Lanham.Â
- M.J. Foster - Among the Roos fantastic freshman class, Foster has shown out in a big way, racking up two top 10 placements this indoor season. Foster ran a 2:33.98 in the 1000-meter dash at the Alexis Jarrett Invitational to come in 9th place overall. Additionally, Foster nabbed a top three placement, running a 1:55.26 in the 800m at the Show-Me-Showdown. Foster had a great freshman cross country season as well, running a season-best 26:53.8 at the Summit League XC Championships.
- Joan Rocha-Navarro - One of the Roos most experienced runners will make his season debut at the Missouri Invitational, as Joan Rocha-Navarro aims to conclude a tremendous track and field career in Kansas City. Rocha-Navarro will run in the one mile race where his career best in that event is 4:10.21 which he set at the 9th Annual Indoor Gorilla Classic in the Roos 2024 indoor track and field campaign. Rocha-Navarro's lone race came in the cross country season, where the senior ran a 19:15.0 in the Bob Timmons Classic 6K race, finishing top 10 in the event.
Players Mentioned
