Missouri
Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational
Utecht Establishes Second Highest Pentathlon Score in Program History at Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational
1/30/2026 6:00:00 PM | Track & Field
The Tigers close out the first of the two-day meet with multiple event titles.
Mizzou track and field's multi-event performers finished first and third in the women's pentathlon to lead the team on the opening day of the second annual Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational, named in honor of the Tigers' long-time Hall of Fame Coach, at the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse.
TOP TIGERS
Graduate transfer Brianna Utecht flirted with the school record in winning the pentathlon with the second highest total in MU history – 4,017 points. The record of 4,122 was set by Teri LeBlanc in 1989. Tiger freshman Sofia Wydra was third with a personal-best 3,693 points. Utecht's previous best was 3,878 points at last year's American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships while she was competing at Wichita State.
Utecht didn't finish lower than tied for third in any of the five disciplines. She was first in the 60m hurdles with a personal-best time of 8.67 and also led the way in the long jump at 5.84m (19-2). She was second in the shot put (12.13m/39-9.75) and tied for third in the high jump with a personal best of 1.66m (5-5.25). She went into the final event – the 800m run – needing to run under 2:17 to set the school record. She led nearly the entire way but faded at the end and finished second with a time of 2:24.75.
The Tigers trotted out their first relay team of the indoor season and the distance medley unit of River Hardman (1200m), Dillon Leacock (400m), Andrew Simard (800m) and Ethan Hogan (1600m) ran to victory with a time of 9:45.05.
Junior Sam Innes, the school-record holder, and senior Garik Pozecki went one-two in the day's first event – the men's weight throw. Innes won with a season-best mark of 22.67m (74-4.5). Pozecki was second (20.49m/67-2.75) and Clayton Kamp was seventh (17.25m/56-7.256).
RECAP
Wydra's best placings were fourth in both the shot put and the 800m run.
Reagan Kimrey and Petra Gombas led Missouri in the women's weight throw placing second and fifth, with respective throws of 19.71m (64-8) and 19.24m (63-1.5).
In the women's pole vault, South Dakota senior Marlena Mulla set the Hearnes Fieldhouse record, clearing 4.55m (14-11) – the second-best vault in the nation this year. The old record of 4.47m (14-8) was set in the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational last year by Kansas' Mason Meinershagen. Mizzou's Anna Vedral, 12th in this meet a year ago, tied for fifth this year with a height of 3.85m/12-7.5.
Senior Yordanos Zelinski finished second in the 5000m run with a time of 14:57.03.
Leacock qualified fourth for Saturday's final in the men's 60m hurdles with a personal-best time of 8.09, and junior Robert Hines qualified fourth for Saturday's final at 6.86.
Schools competing in the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational include Illinois State, Indiana State, North Dakota State, SIUE, South Dakota, Louisiana, FIU, St. Louis U., Drake, Washington (Mo.), and Gonzaga.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 – DR. RICK McGUIRE INVITATIONAL (DAY ONE) |
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MULTI EVENTS |
Place-Athlete-Mark | Notes (PR = personal record / FR = facility record) |
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Pentathlon (W) |
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Overall |
1st – Briana Utecht – 4017 pts | PR 3rd – Sofia Wydra – 3693 pts | PR |
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60m Hurdles |
1st – Brianna Utecht – 8.67 | PR – 980 pts. 10th – Sofia Wydra – 9.08 | PR – 893 pts. |
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High Jump |
T 3rd – Brianna Utecht – 1.66m (5-5.25) | PR – 806 pts. 5th – Sofia Wydra – 1.63m (5-4.25) | PR – 771 pts. |
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Shot Put |
2nd – Brianna Utecht – 12.13m (39-9.75) – 670 pts. 4th – Sofia Wydra – 11.76m (38-7) | PR – 645 pts. |
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Long Jump |
1st – Brianna Utecht – 5.84m (19-2) – 801 pts. 7th – Sofia Wydra – 5.35m (17-6.75) – 656 pts. |
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800m Run |
2nd – Brianna Utecht – 2:24.75 – 760 pts. 4th – Sofia Wydra – 2:27.28 | PR – 727 pts. |
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FIELD EVENTS |
Place-Athlete-Mark | Notes (PR = personal record / FR = facility record) |
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Weight Throw (M) |
1st – Sam Innes – 22.67m/74-4.5 2nd – Garik Pozecki – 20.49m/67-2.75 7th – Clayton Kamp – 17.25m/56-7.25 |
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Weight Throw (W)
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2nd – Reagan Kimrey – 19.81m/64-8 5th – Petra Gombas – 19.24m/63-1.5 9th – Ames Burton – 16.94m/55-7 12th – Kaitlyn Morningstar – 15.63m/51-3.5 13th – Delilah Pippen – 15.48m/50-9.5 16th – Tania Duncan – 13.96m/45-9.75 |
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Pole Vault (W)
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T 5th – Anna Vedral – 3.85m/12-7.5 14th – Anna Ferguson – 3.55m/11-7.75 16th – Allison Geen – 3.40m/11-1.75 |
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RUNNING EVENTS |
Place-Athlete-Mark | Notes (PR = personal record / FR = facility record) |
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5000m Run (M) |
2nd – Yordanos Zelinski – 14:57.03 |
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60m Hurdles (M) Prelims |
Qualified 4th – Dillon Leacock – 8.09 | PR |
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60m Dash (M) Prelims |
Qualified 4th – Robert Hines – 6.86 |
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UP NEXT
The Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational wraps up on Sat., Jan. 31, with events beginning at 11 a.m. Next week, Missouri hosts the Missouri Invitational inside the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse on Fri., Feb. 6.
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Players Mentioned
