Hendricks Hits Five Season PRs, Highlighting Penultimate Meet
Sophomore Marian Hendricks beat her personal record in the 400-meter dash for the fourth time this season in six meets
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Sophomore sprinter Marian Hendricks continued to churn out personal bests all season long with a fifth PR in 2026, leading a successful evening at the John McDonnell Invitational Friday at the University of Arkansas' John McDonnell Field.
Six Eagles landed personal bests in total on the day, spread evenly across six athletes and including both of NWACC's throwers.
Hendricks' personal-best 1:07.06 in the 400-meter dash was nearly half a second better than her previous record set earlier in April.
Freshman thrower Omar Medina bested an NJCAA national qualifying distance from two weeks ago for a new PR in shot put, while fellow freshman throwing specialist Madilyn Guy set a new personal record in discus.
Freshman distance runner Gloria Kurgat ran a 5:03.69 and grabbed a third 1500-meter PR in as many tries this season and her fourth PR in her past four events; she has registered a personal best in every event in the month of April.
Sophomore sprinter Brandon Lindenmuth came up with his first personal record of the season in the 400-meter dash, running a 51:05.
THROWS
Guy was the first Eagle to perform, picking up a 20.18-meter distance that was her personal best and represented her first career throw beyond 20 meters.
Medina's 16.14-meter throw came on his third attempt and landed him in the finals. He beat his previous best by over a foot (0.3 meters).
JUMPS
Nearly a month after his last registered attempt, freshman jumper Logan Bouzek returned from injury but did not register a qualifying jump.
Bouzek last landed a jump March 28 at the ORU Invitational; he was injured early into his meet April 4 at the David Suenram Gorilla Classic and missed the Arkansas Spring Invitational April 11 due to the same injury.
SPRINTS
Lindenmuth and Jakson Suit contested the 400-meter run for the men; Lindenmuth's 51.05 set his first PR of the season, while Suit came across the line in 57.67 seconds.
In the women's 400 that followed, Hendricks picked up her PR with a 1:07.06, closely followed by freshman Talitha Venter.
Owen Seusy's 11.55 time was the lone Eagle entry in the men's 100 meters. Seusy also ran a 23.46 in the 200, while Lindenmuth produced a 23.12 and Suit came across at 25.37.
In the women's 200 meters, Talitha Venter delivered a personal record of 30.39, coming in just behind Hendricks' 29.14.
DISTANCE
Distance events were left for the evening hours, with the men's 800-meter run coming first at 6 p.m. With freshman Benjamin Venter not present due to illness, freshman Kevin Perez was the lone NWACC representative. Perez ran the 800 meters in 2:05.21 but was disqualified for what officials deemed breaking too soon out of the start line.
Perez was back in action with the men's 1500 meters, running a 4:27.62. In the women's 1500-meter event, Kurgat collected her fourth PR in as many meets with her 5:03.69; sophomore Cindy Soto followed with a 5:07.93.
NEXT UP
One meet remains, serving as the final opportunity for NWACC athletes to join Medina and produce a national qualifying performance. The Eagles return to Fayetteville for Arkansas Twilight May 8, with video coverage on ESPN+ and results available on NWACCEagles.com.
The 2026 NJCAA National Championship takes place in Hobbs, N.M. May 13-15.
