GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gyrenes had another good meet in Gainesville, this time in the Celebration Pointe Invite. Caitlyn O'Brien and Michael Long stole show as they were named Sun Conference Track and Field Players of the Week after their performance Friday.

The Celebration Pointe Invite didn't offer an official pentathlon, but O'Brien shined in three of the events they did offer. The junior's best event was the long jump. She leaped 5.81 meters, which is over 19 feet, to place second in a field of 32 athletes. She was the only NAIA athlete to finish in the 10, with the other nine spots being taken by NCAA competitors. It is also the second longest jump of the season in the entire NAIA.

O'Brien had another top three finish in the 60 hurdles, clocking in with a time of 8.70 seconds for third place. Again, she was the highest placing NAIA athlete in the race, with an NCAA Division 1 athlete taking second and pro hurdler winning the race. Her time is also the 12^th fastest in the NAIA this season.

The last big event for O'Brien was the shot put, setting a new personal record at a mark of 10.93 meters and earning sixth place in a field of 25.

"Just a big day for [O'Brien]," said head coach Alan Webb. "A really big day for her individual events and a confidence booster. She was having fun out there, which is really awesome to see her having fun."

On the men's side, Long continued his dominance in the 800 meter race. The sophomore won his fifth race in a row, dating back to the Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship in 2024. Long finished with a time of 1:51.23. It wasn't his fastest race of the season, which is still his time in the Keiser Open in December that is the second fastest in the NAIA this year, but it was his most strategic race of the year. From Webb, Long ran to win and didn't try to force any time.

On Monday, O'Brien was selected as the Sun Conference's Women's Field Athlete of the Week while Long was picked as the conference's Men's Track Athlete of the Week. This is the second time being selected for Long and third time being selected for O'Brien.

Other strong performances from the Gyrenes in the Celebration Pointe Invite included Alexis Mendlik breaking a minute for the first time in the 400 meter race at 59.75. Samuel Paga had a strong race in the mile with a time of 4:27.14. In the women's mile, Sofia Torres and Madison Thomas also posted good times at 5:17.26 and 5:23.82, respectively.

The Invite was the last tune up for the Gyrenes before the Conference Championships February 14-15, also in Gainesville.

"I'm excited about getting in there and competing with the other conference teams," said Webb. "It's going to be fun; we are going to do all the relays this time. Shifting a few people from their individual events into some of those relays to focus on that. [And] again, some top individual performers: [O'Brien] in the pentathlon and [Long] in the 800. Plus, our distance squad in the distance events."