Track & Field 1/16/2026 10:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Indoor Season Returns With Handful of Top 10 Finishes For Central

Bronchos Get Back To Work In Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. – Central Oklahoma saw four top 1- finishes, including two in the top five, at the Rust Buster hosted by Washburn University as Indoor track & field season resumed in the new year.

Deriayah Lee finished fourth in the 400-meters and the UCO relay team of Lee, McKenna Huston, Reta Ojene, and Maya Conrad finished fourth in the 4x400m. Gabija Pukstas added a ninth-place finish in the mile and Huston raced to a 10th-place finish in the 300-meters.

Central Oklahoma had 17 student-athletes competing in 10 events Friday in the first meet of the new year. Just two of those events were field events. Charis Phillips finished 12th in the long jump (5.20 meters) and Abigail Kelly finished 14th in the shot put (11.50 meters).

It was the fourth-best mark for the sophomore Kelly and the first time competing in the long jump for the freshman Phillips. She also ran the 200m (27.72 seconds) and was part of a second relay team for the Bronchos (4:16.48).

In the 60-meter dash, Zakeirah Johnson led the way finishing in 7.88 seconds. Lauryn Thaggard (8.28), Jaelynne Knighton (8.29), and Marley Battles (8.45) also raced in the event.

Tyana Hymes was Central's lone hurdler on Friday. She finished 13th with a time of 9.65 seconds, a PR for the sophomore.

Johnson led the way in the 200m as well. She finished 13th in 25.87 seconds. Mikayla Stephenson (27.25), Hymes (27.32), Phillips (27.72), and Thaggard (28.53) all ran in the crowded event.

Ojene joined Huston in the rarely offered 300 meters. Ojene was 14th in 43.16 seconds. Conrad finished 16th in 43.31 and Amiya Hill finished 20th in 43.97 seconds.

In the mile run, Asia Williams (5:54.29) and Kylee Smith (6:16.72) joined Pukstas. Ariane Williams ran the 3,000-meters in 11:40.76.

Central Oklahoma is competing in three consecutive weekends. The Bronchos return next Friday at the J.D. Martin Invitational at OU.

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Players Mentioned

Amiya Hill: Sprints; 5' 5"; Sophomore

Tyana Hymes: Hurdles; 5' 4"; Sophomore

Abigail Kelly: Throws; Junior

Deriayah Lee: Hurdles; 5' 3"; Junior

Reta Ojene: Sprints; Senior

Kylee Smith: Distance; Senior

Mikayla Stephenson: Sprints; 5' 5"; Junior

Ariane Williams: Distance; 5' 7"; Junior

Asia Williams: Distance; 5' 4"; Senior

Marley Battles: Sprints; Junior

Players Mentioned

Amiya Hill
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: Sprints

Tyana Hymes
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: Hurdles

Abigail Kelly
: Junior
: Throws

Deriayah Lee
: 5' 3"; Junior
: Hurdles

Reta Ojene
: Senior
: Sprints

Kylee Smith
: Senior
: Distance

Mikayla Stephenson
: 5' 5"; Junior
: Sprints

Ariane Williams
: 5' 7"; Junior
: Distance

Asia Williams
: 5' 4"; Senior
: Distance

Marley Battles
: Junior
: Sprints