Graceland Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Coach Alsup Invitational

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Graceland University men's and women's indoor track and field teams began their 2026 campaigns at the Coach Alsup Invitational, hosted at Hughes Fieldhouse on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University. Against strong NAIA and NCAA Division II competition, the Yellowjackets turned in several personal bests and early-season benchmarks in their first meet of the indoor slate.

Head coach Tom Shore viewed the outing as an ideal launching point for the winter schedule:
"This was the first event of the indoor season and it was a great barometer for our student-athletes of where they are, and where they want to be. We had some very strong efforts from our top competitors on both the men's and women's teams. It's a long season, but this meet gave us a solid foundation moving forward."

Men's Highlights

Graceland's top men's finisher on the day was Kaeden Monday, who clocked a 23.67 in the 200-meter dash, placing him in the top half of a 90-plus athlete field. Monday also competed in the 60-meter dash, where he ran a 7.33, contributing to Graceland's sprint depth early in the season.

Harrison Ramirez added a competitive effort in the 600-yard run, finishing in 1:23.91, while Logan Mace followed closely at 1:27.14, as both distance runners notched opening splits in the tactical middle-distance event. In the same race, Bradley Harris crossed in 1:19.55, placing top 20 overall in a field of over 30 runners.

Sprinter Elias Walker posted a 7.21 in the 60-meter dash, the fastest mark of the day among Graceland's sprint squad. He was joined by Allen Garrison, who recorded a 7.65, and Cole Milks, who added depth to the group in both the 60 and 200-meter dashes.

Also competing in the 200, Israel Caden contributed to the team total, while Milks rounded out the group in 25.27. The Graceland men had a full relay pool present as well, although full relay results were unavailable at press time.

Coach Shore praised the early-season performances:
"Kaeden was steady in both events and showed maturity with how he approached the 200 meters. Harrison gave us a great split in the 600-yard, and Elias ran with confidence in a fast 60-meter field. These types of early marks will help us fine-tune event placement as the season progresses."

Women's Highlights

On the women's side, the Yellowjackets were led by Christine Burke, who posted a time of 2:18.13 in the 600-yard run, making her one of Graceland's top performers of the meet. Burke's strength in the final laps showcased her offseason work and provided a strong base for longer events to come.

Also on the track, Grace Testerman competed in the 400-meter dash, finishing in 1:12.87, while Nya Glenn clocked a 32.05 in the 200-meter dash. Both athletes opened their indoor seasons with respectable showings in large fields of competitors.

Burke's performance particularly stood out to Coach Shore:
"Christine was locked in from the gun. Her strength and pacing were outstanding for this early in the season, and I think she's ready to make a big impact at the conference level. Grace and Nya also showed they've taken a step forward since last season, and we're excited about where they'll go from here."

Program Outlook

Graceland's men's and women's teams used this season-opening event as both a competitive measuring stick and developmental tool. The Coach Alsup Invite featured full rosters from fellow NAIA rivals and NCAA Division II opponents, providing a challenging setting that simulated championship-caliber competition. The Yellowjackets' performances gave the coaching staff an early read on both event group depth and individual progression.

"There's a lot of work ahead," Shore added, "but it's encouraging to see our athletes trust the process. We'll keep sharpening over the next few weeks so we're ready to compete at our best by the Heart Conference meet."

Next Meet

Graceland University will return to action on Saturday, February 14, at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, held on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo. The meet will bring together all Heart member institutions in the battle for indoor titles.

For more information on Graceland indoor track and field and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.