BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field teams, led by second-year head coach Leith Rawson, opened the 2025 campaign on Saturday, Jan. 18, competing at the annual Samford Indoor Open at the Birmingham Crossplex in central Alabama.
Mobile saw several notable performances in the first meet of the season, but did not see a Ram qualify for the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. Mobile still has several meets remaining on the schedule as potential qualifying opportunities.
Highlights
Stephen Mixon from the men's team just missed out on hitting a qualifying mark for NAIA Nationals at the Samford Open, recording a top-10 finish in the men's 60 meters with a time of 6.88 seconds. Jacob Harned joined Mixon with a ninth-place finish over the weekend, coming in the men's 5,000 meters where he managed a time of 15:49.91. Just missing out on a top-10 finish was Joey Jones in the men's 3,000 meters where he placed 13th with a time of 8:52.59.
On the women's team, standout efforts included Claire Atkins securing 20th in the women's 3,000 meters (11:37.16) and 25th in the women's mile (5:46.95), Kayley Burgess finishing 15th in the women's 5000 meters (21:19.41), and strong showings in field events by Mallory Botos and Aniyah Dent in the women's shot put and weight throw. Dent placed 23rd (9.66m) in the shot put, while Botos secured a 19th-place finish (12.75m) in the weight throw.
Season Continues in Two Weekends
Both teams at Mobile will travel back to the Birmingham Crossplex in two weekends as the Rams compete in the South Alabama Jaguar Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 2.
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About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted, and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
