Records Broken at Second Day of Invitationals

Missouri athletes deliver program bests at Tyson and BU Valentine Invitationals

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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On Saturday, Feb. 14, Missouri athletes finished their regular season off in record-breaking fashion, delivering program bests and all smiles in Fayetteville and Boston. Multiple program records were set across events like the women's 5000m, mile, and men's shot put.

Why it matters

The strong performances at the invitationals showcase the depth and talent of Missouri's track and field program as they head into the SEC Indoor Championship. The records broken will boost the team's confidence and momentum going into the postseason.

The details

In the women's 5000m, Monica Wanjiku placed fourth overall with a time of 15:24.84 minutes, putting her second in program history behind Karissa Schweizer. Kobi Walker and Mirriam Chepkirui also recorded top-10 program times. In the mile, Suzy Lecoutre claimed the fourth-best time in Missouri history at 4:38.91 minutes, while Morgan Yeoman and Allison Newman also recorded top-10 program times. On the men's side, Yordanos Zelinski and River Hardman posted top-26 times in the mile, and Chase Crawford placed 15th in the shot put with a throw of 17.53 meters.

  • The invitationals took place on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
  • The SEC Indoor Championship will be held from Thursday, Feb. 24 to Saturday, Feb. 26, 2026 in College Station, Texas.

The players

Monica Wanjiku

A Missouri athlete who placed fourth in the women's 5000m with a time of 15:24.84 minutes, putting her second in program history.

Kobi Walker

A Missouri athlete who recorded a top-10 program time in the women's 5000m.

Mirriam Chepkirui

A Missouri athlete who competed in the women's 5000m.

Suzy Lecoutre

A Missouri athlete who claimed the fourth-best mile time in program history with a time of 4:38.91 minutes.

Morgan Yeoman

A Missouri athlete who recorded a top-10 program time in the women's mile in her collegiate debut.

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What they’re saying

“It's so incredibly supportive, and we just, we want to all see each other succeed, like you go out there in the race as all Mizzou kids, and you'll see it in the 3k, you're not racing each other, you're racing with each other.”

— Allison Newman, Missouri athlete (Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational)

What’s next

The Tigers will compete in the SEC Indoor Championship on Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 24-26, at the Fasken Indoor Track & Field Complex in College Station, Texas. It is not yet confirmed who will be competing, but updates will arrive shortly on those players and times.

The takeaway

The record-breaking performances at the invitationals demonstrate the strength and depth of Missouri's track and field program as they head into the postseason. The team's camaraderie and support for one another will be a key asset as they compete for championships.