Rivera, Foster Set New 800M Career Bests at John McDonnell Invitational

Friday, April 25

Fayetteville, AR

2:40 PM

Kansas City

John McDonnell Invite

Rivera, Foster Set New 800M Career Bests at John McDonnell Invitational

4/25/2025 10:41:00 PM | Track and Field

Kansas City notched five new personal records, nine top 10 times in Fayetteville on Friday evening

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. - Under the Friday night lights, Kansas City slew together numerous excellent individual performances to put the finishing touches on a well-rounded outing at the John McDonnell Invitational. Kansas City found particular success in the 200, 800 and 400 meter dashes as five Roos nabbed new personal bests in Fayetteville, four of them beingfrom freshman runners.

TOP PERFORMERS

Tory Lanham - Following his career-best 20.59 a couple weeks ago, Lanham posted a stellar time of 20.78 at the John McDonnell Invitational, good for third best in the event. It's the third time this year Lanham has recorded a sub-21 second time in the 200-meter dash and the second time he's done it in the outdoor season.
Amari Eugene - One of the Roos' PR's belonged to Eugene as the freshman sprinter racked up a 200m time of 20.90, giving him the first sub-21 second time of his career. The time is now the second best in the Summit League, trailing only his teammate Lanham for the top 200m time in the conference.
M.J. Foster - Foster nabbed a new career-best time in the 800m in style, registering a time of 1:53.13 which was good for a top 20 mark in the event. Foster's 1:53.13 is not only a new PR for the freshman distance runner, but it's also the 17th best time in the Summit League for the outdoor season.
Jacky Perez-Vela - Before Friday evening, Perez-Vela's best 400m time was 56:45, a strong time for the freshman. However, her best was still to come as Perez-Vela notched a new PR of 55.55 at the John McDonnell Invite, good for 12th best in the event. The time is the sixth best 400m mark in the conference this outdoor season.
Mariah Belmont - A few weeks after setting a great 3000-meter steeplechase time of 11:28.94, Belmont broke that time, recording a brilliant mark of 11:12.87. Belmont's time on Friday evening remains the fourth best 3000m steeplechase time in KC outdoor women's history and is still the ninth best time in the conference.
Alanie Rivera - Rivera was ultra-impressive at the John McDonnell Invitational, boasting a new career-best 800m time of 2:12.73, breaking her prior personal record by just over five seconds. Additionally, Rivera's 800m time is the new 13th best time in the Summit League this outdoor season.