Graceland Men Compete Against Elite Field at Central Missouri Mule Relays

WARRENSBURG, Mo. — The Graceland University men's outdoor track and field team continued its 2025 campaign on Friday at the Central Missouri Mule Relays, competing against a deep and talented field of NCAA Division II, NAIA, and NJCAA programs. The meet, hosted at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field, provided another opportunity for Yellowjacket student-athletes to sharpen race execution and build postseason readiness.

Graceland's sprints unit led the way, with seven entries in the 100-meter dash, paced by freshman Tael Jean, who clocked 11.04 seconds to finish 25th overall in a field of nearly 100 sprinters. Senior Robert Robinson was close behind, placing 27th in 11.06, while sophomore Kaeden Monday crossed in 11.24. Freshmen Elias Walker (11.37) and Paul Marchand (11.35), senior Al-Farouk Salako (11.64), and sophomore Tymar West (11.85) rounded out the Yellowjacket competitors in the event.

In the 200-meter dash, Robinson led the team again with a time of 22.21 seconds, placing 13th overall. Jean returned to post a 36th-place finish in 22.72, while Marchand (22.94) and Monday (23.20) rounded out the group's efforts. Freshman Steven Mills also competed, clocking in at 22.77 seconds, good for 37th place.

"Meets like this give us a true gauge of where we stand, and our guys responded well," said head coach Quinton Harley. "There's a high standard here with the number of quality teams in attendance. For us to have this many athletes pushing into the mid- and low-22s in the 200 shows we're getting better each week."

In addition to the sprint events, Graceland entered senior Tymar West in the 400 meters, where he posted a time of 54.09 seconds, continuing his transition toward longer sprint distances. The staff emphasized technical efficiency over time in this race, aiming to develop tactical skills in pacing and finish mechanics.

No field events were contested by the Yellowjackets at this meet, allowing the team to focus its resources on sprint development and meet execution.

Throughout the day, Harley and the staff prioritized rhythm, acceleration mechanics, and top-end speed maintenance during both the 100 and 200-meter phases. In both races, Graceland athletes competed in large heats with minimal rest, offering an added mental challenge reflective of championship racing environments.

Robinson's consistency at sub-11.10 in the 100 and sub-22.30 in the 200 this season continues to be a highlight. Jean, meanwhile, has shown strong promise in his freshman campaign with multiple marks under 11.10 and 22.80.

Graceland's coaching staff cited the team's response to competitive pressure and the ability to maintain race form under wind-variable conditions as key takeaways.

"This meet gave us a better look at who is ready to contribute at the conference level," Harley said. "We're closing in on our peak, and our athletes are executing the details that matter when margins get tight."

Overall, the Central Missouri Mule Relays featured multiple performances from national-caliber athletes across various levels, including Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri State, Iowa Central, Evangel, and William Jewell.

As Graceland approaches the final stretch of the outdoor regular season, the team will look to capitalize on its depth and experience in the sprint core to secure finals spots and scoring opportunities at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships.

Next up for Graceland is the Mount Mercy DeBacker Invitational on Saturday, April 19, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That meet marks the final regular-season tune-up before the Yellowjackets turn their full attention to postseason preparation.

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