Track & Field Weekend Recap

The Pioneers continued their nomadic ways with three different meets in two days as a handful went to Oklahoma University while the distance squad locked in at Butler Community College on Friday and the throwers plus two went to Tabor College on Saturday.
 
Norman, Okla. – Results | At the John Jacobs Invitational on the Oklahoma University campus, the Pioneers were ready to test their abilities against the NCAA DI schools. At this meet, divisions ran the gamut with a spattering of DI to junior colleges. The handful of Pioneers that made the trek were up for the task.
 
In the field events, Eriyon Stamps stole the show in the triple jump with a first place finish as he surpassed the 15 meter milestone for the first time. His jump earned him a new school record as well as claiming the top spot in the Heart of America Conference and the fifth place in the NAIA with an A-standard National qualifying mark.
 
On the track, Nikiwe Mongwe and Lance Jones continued their winning ways, as both won their events, Mongwe in the 400 meter dash and Jones in the 110 meter hurdles. They also hit A-standard National qualifying marks where Mongwe sits fourth and Jones is first in the NAIA. Both also are the leaders in the Heart of America Conference.
 
In the 200 meter dash, James Farmer-Cole took the runner-up spot in the meet with his best performance of the year. The time currently has him sitting on the top of the leaderboard in the Heart of America Conference.
 
El Dorado, Kan. – Results | Meanwhile, the Pioneer distance runners where locked in as they hit eight personal best times at the Grizzly Gold Invitational at Butler Community College.
 
Isabella Meili set the standard with a personal best in the 800 meter run. Her time placed fifth in the meet but landed her in runner-up position in the Heart of America Conference.
 
In the 1500 meter race, two Pioneers added to the personal record list with Anna McKnight leading the women. Jacob Hendrickson led the Pioneer men with a personal best that placed him very close to breaking the elusive 4 minute barrier.
 
With a cooler evening, the 5000 meter race was bound to be impressive.The Pioneers responded with all five Pioneers setting personal records. Riley Filmore led the charge for the women with Julia Swearengin and Gracie Enochs following suit. For the men, Gavin Williams broke the 17 minute barrier with teammate Ken Morgan on his tail as they both went under 17 for the first time in their collegiate career.
 
Hillsboro, Kan. – Results | Tabor College was the final destination of the weekend for the Pioneers who took advantage of the opportunity with eight top 3 finishes and five personal bests.

Sophie Scott was the lone track athlete for the Pioneers as she ran her first outdoor meet of the season, making her debut in the 800 meter run. Through the first lap, Scott was matching step with the leader as they both pulled away from their competitors. Eventually the opponent pulled away, but Scott fought to the end to grab the silver medal.
 
Switching to the field events, the Pioneers' pole vault expert, Evan Schmidt, took flight to grab the bronze medal, missing second by only four inches.
 
The throwers were able to grab six top 3 places while pulling down an additional five personal bests.
 
In the hammer throw, Jacob Creswell took the title while freshman Russell Ferguson grabbed a personal best for the Pioneer men. For the Pioneer women, Alicia Hernandez-Mast took the runner-up spot while Ella Margheim grabbed the bronze with a personal best. Raylee Saunders added to the total with another personal best for the Pioneer women.
 
Leading the Pioneer men in the discus, Alex Dawkins grabbed a silver while hitting a B-standard National qualifying mark.
 
The javelin throw had a great return on time invested at the meet where Nora Powers and Brody Stewart both grabbed runner-up spots. Powers also threw a B-Standard National qualifying mark. Ella Margheim and Raylee Saunders added to the excitement where each grabbed a personal best, two for the day for both of them.
 
For the weekend, God blessed the Pioneers with one school record, three A-standard National qualifying marks, two B-standard National qualifying mark, four meet titles, six runner-up spots, two third places, and 14 personal records.