Season best hammer places Banks sixth at Penn Relays
PHILADELPHIA – First day of action for the Razorbacks included competition in the hammer and steeplechase at Franklin Field on Thursday. A season best of 209 feet, 1 inch, placed Ruben Banks sixth in the Championship division of the hammer.
Competing in the college division of the hammer, Ben Ryer finished fourth with a toss of 195-6 (59.58).
In the 3,000m steeplechase the Razorback trio racing included Andrew Kibet (9:00.37), Carter Persyn (9:04.30), and Emmanuel Cheboson (9:15.16) as they placed 12th, 14th, and 26th.
Persyn currently leads the SEC from his 8:55.86 at the Bryan Clay Invitational two weeks ago. Kibet moves to seventh in the league and Cheboson is 15th.
Banks, who is recovering from a rib injury, produced a pair of throws over 200 feet in his series while finishing sixth among a field of 11 throwers. His previous season best heading into this weekend was 193-4 (58.92) from the Mt. SAC Relays.
Among the first three rounds his best effort of 209-1 (63.73) was preceded and followed by fouls. Another foul followed in round four, then Banks reached a distance of 206-3 (62.86) in the fifth stanza and completed his day with a 198-9 (60.58).
The 209-1 mark moves Banks to ninth in the SEC for 2022, and 25th in the NCAA West. Banks established a career best of 219-4 (66.85) in 2021.
Having set a career best of 199-1 (60.68) earlier this season, Ryer generated a pair of 190-plus throws in his series at the Penn Relays.
A 194-3 (59.22) in the second round had Ryer in fourth place through the first three rounds. He was passed in the sixth round by a 195-2 (59.50) from Widener’s Alex Kristeller. Ryer responded with a 195-6 (59.58) to reclaim the fourth-place position. Ryer currently ranks 15th in the SEC.
