The Adams State Grizzlies made their presence felt at the 2025 Don Kirby Invite and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, delivering a series of strong performances that underscored their competitive spirit. From the sprints to the distance races, Adams State athletes showcased their talent against some of the nation's best.

At the Don Kirby Invite, the men's 400-meter dash saw an impressive effort from El-Mir Reale, who stormed to a third-place finish with a blazing time of 47.25. Gavin Heyneman also put up a strong showing, placing 12th in 48.48, adding depth to Adams State's sprinting prowess.

In the men's mile run at the Don Kirby Invite, Adams State had a strong showing led by David Millan, who secured a fourth-place finish in 4:13.72. Zak Beckwith followed with an 11th-place finish in 4:17.41, just ahead of teammate Danyom Yosief, who took 12th in 4:17.60. Emil Bezecny clocked in at 4:20.96 for 13th place, while Micah Swann rounded out the group in 15th at 4:22.19.

The men's mile at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational also saw impressive performances from Adams State athletes. Harrison Boyd placed 47th with a time of 4:00.66, while Housem Hrabi followed closely behind in 51st with a time of 4:00.78, demonstrating the depth of Adams State's middle-distance talent.

The 800-meter run at the Don Kirby Invite saw standout performances from Adams State athletes. Louis O'Loughlin secured a strong fifth-place finish with a time of 1:52.65. Oisin Lynch followed closely in ninth place, clocking in at 1:53.23. Carmelo Corral crossed the line in 1:54.60 for 13th place, while Andrew O'Keefe followed in 16th with a time of 1:55.03. These performances illustrated Adams State's ability to compete in middle-distance events with precision and endurance.

One of the most notable results at the Don Kirby Invite came in the men's 3,000-meter run, where Emil Bezecny surged to a second-place finish in 8:21.63. Teammate Danyom Yosief wasn't far behind, securing fourth place in 8:23.52. Micah Swann also had a strong showing, finishing ninth in 8:42.54.

In a groundbreaking performance, Romain Legendre set a new indoor NCAA Division II record in the men's 3,000-meter run with an extraordinary time of 7:36.28, taking first place and securing his place in history after his 7 second improvement from the old record. 

The men's 4x400-meter relay team, featuring Gavin Heyneman, Chris Rader, Ja'Warren Smith, and El-Mir Reale, put together a cohesive and powerful performance to finish in fifth place with a time of 3:13.87, proving that Adams State's relay teams could hold their own against elite competition.

On the women's side, the mile run at the Don Kirby Invite was a standout event for the Grizzlies. Lieke Hoogsteen led the charge with a third-place finish in 4:56.64. Clara Keddy delivered a strong performance, securing ninth place with a time of 5:06.21. Marie Garet and Haley Harkrider finished 13th and 14th, clocking 5:08.49 and 5:08.68, respectively. Megan Garrett added to the depth with a 16th-place finish in 5:10.06. Katie Hughes and Morgan O'Keefe rounded out the team's effort, placing 18th and 19th with times of 5:11.19 and 5:12.88, respectively.

Haley Harkrider also delivered an impressive performance in the women's 3,000-meter run at the Don Kirby Invite, securing a sixth-place finish with a time of 10:22.73. 

In the women's 3,000-meter run at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, Tristian Spence, placed 23rd with a time of 9:07.95. While Ava O'Connor, followed closely in 47th place with a time of 9:16.64. Emily Schoellkopf, had a strong performance in the women's 5,000-meter run, finishing in 48th place with a time of 16:16.62.

In the women's mile at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, Elena Carey, placed 46th with a time of 4:41.91. 

Back at the Don Kirby Invite the women's 4x400-meter relay team, composed of Isila Apkup, Sarah Cohen, Victoria Amiadamen, and Alese Sartain, set a new school record with a time of 3:41.72, surpassing the previous mark of 3:44.57 by 3 seconds.

With multiple top finishes and personal bests across both meets, Adams State once again proved why it is a dominant presence in collegiate track and field. The Grizzlies will send a group next weekend to the Western Colorado Alumni Open before preparing for the RMAC Championships on February 28-29.