Graceland Men’s Track Posts Deep Sprint Group Showing at Mule Relays

WARRENSBURG, Mo. — The Graceland University men's outdoor track and field team showcased a developing sprint unit and competitive depth at the University of Central Missouri Mule Relays on April 11. With athletes competing across the 100- and 200-meter dashes, the Yellowjackets gained key mid-season experience in a strong field of NAIA and NCAA Division II opponents.

Graceland was led by freshman sprinter Tael Jean, who posted the team's top time in the 100 meters, crossing in 11.04 seconds under a legal wind reading of +2.5 m/s. Jean finished 25th overall out of 91 competitors, standing out as one of the top NAIA freshmen in a heat filled with high-caliber sprinters from across the Midwest.

Senior Robert Robinson followed closely, recording 11.06 seconds (1.5 m/s wind), good for 27th overall. The veteran sprinter later returned to the track in the 200 meters, where he logged a time of 22.21 seconds, finishing in the top half of the event (13th overall). Robinson's consistent form across both sprint events added critical veteran presence to a youthful Graceland squad.

"We're continuing to build a competitive sprint group, and this meet gave our guys a chance to see how they stack up regionally," said head coach Quinton Harley. "Tael and Robert showed discipline and poise. The focus right now is on refinement and timing as we head into the final stretch of the season."

Senior Paul Marchand placed 48th in the 100 meters with a time of 11.35 seconds, while freshman Elias Walker clocked 11.37 seconds, finishing 51st overall. Sophomore Kaeden Monday also delivered a season-best 11.24 seconds, landing in 39th position, a promising sign of his progression heading toward the Heart of America Championships.

Rounding out the Graceland 100-meter competitors, senior Al-Farouk Salako posted a time of 11.64 seconds, and sophomore Tymar West finished in 11.85 seconds. The 100-meter field was stacked with elite collegiate sprinters, including athletes from NCAA Division II and NJCAA powerhouses like Iowa Central and Central Missouri.

In the 200 meters, freshman Tael Jean added a second scoring mark, finishing in 22.72 seconds under a +0.5 m/s wind, placing 36th. Al-Farouk Salako returned in the longer sprint with a time of 22.99 seconds, while Marchand, competing in his second event of the meet, rounded out the team's 200m efforts.

"What I saw was a group of young men not intimidated by the level of competition," Harley said. "We had seven guys under 11.65 in the 100 and multiple sub-23s in the 200. That's the foundation of what we're building—execution and accountability."

The Mule Relays, held annually at Audrey J. Walton Stadium, featured a full slate of track and field events contested under moderate wind conditions. While the Yellowjackets did not field entries in mid-distance, hurdles or field events for this meet, Harley confirmed the team is rotating through event specialization with a focus on keeping athletes healthy and technically sharp for postseason competition.

"We're staying calculated with our event entries to optimize each athlete's peak potential," he added. "Everything from our warmups to our heat placement is strategic. I was very pleased with the attitude and composure of this group."

With strong marks now on the board, the team is tracking personal bests, seed improvements, and Heart of America conference rankings as the calendar nears the final qualifying window. Graceland's performances at the Mule Relays serve as a launching point for next week's final regular-season meet before the conference championships.

Up Next

The Yellowjackets will return to competition on Saturday, April 19, at the Mount Mercy Debacker Invite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, held at the Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex. The meet will offer athletes a final opportunity to post qualifying times for the Heart of America Outdoor Championships and sharpen relay handoffs, race strategy, and block execution.

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