Simson Garcia | Sports Editor
The track and field Wolves ran, dashed, hurdled, threw, jumped and vaulted to six victories overall, 30 personal records and a first place score of 163 points by the men’s team on April 6.
In the first home event of the year, the weather was clean and sunny as a crew of four runners bloomed to 22 points for the men in the 800-meters. First-year Neal Cranston’s 10 point, first place win led the pack, and earned himself an all-time best — 1 minute, and 55.42 seconds.
More help was on its way as the 1500-meter runners matched that total, with sophomore Justin Crosswhite tallying another 10-point score and first place finish of 3:54.7. The time bettered his goal to finish in 3:55, according to Crosswhite.
The men’s team wasn’t done racking up points though, as sophomore Jalon Fields helped jump his team even further ahead with 10 and a first place measure of 13.91 meters in the triple jump.
Then, it was first-year Jackson Stallard who vaulted his team higher, earning the pole vault title with a height of 4.35m.
Despite a finish of 99 points for the women’s team, second to Concordia’s 149, many outran their previous personal records, while two runners earned titles. 10 points were added after Kennedy Rufener went ahead of the field in the 1500-meter in a time of 4:38.79. In addition to the overall team score, 29 earned in the 400-meter was the second-highest earned total in an event that day, after Concordia’s 31 in the hammer throw. Junior Olivia Woods outran the 400-meter field, her personal best and school record — 56.40 — in a time of 56.01. Woods ended up receiving the GNAC athlete of the week for her performance.
“Going in, I didn’t really have that much expectations. The main focus was having fun with it since it was a home environment and just trying to race well,” said Woods. Three more Wolves trailed right behind her in the same 400: seniors Megan Rose, Suzanne Van De Grift and sophomore Grayson Burke. Rose and Van De Grift both saw improved personal times in 57.19 and 57.24.
The two teams also had a field day of PR’s off the track along with more scores added. In the throw, sophomore Hailee Korff scored three and distanced her throw at 130-2. First-year Darian Wilson, who turned in a sixth place run in the 100-meter hurdle, had a PR in the javelin throw of 144-5, good for third place, and added six.
Rounding out the men’s field with a score of 18 were hammer throwers Logan Barker, sophomore; first-years Mont Child and Owen Collins; and junior Nick Sieber. Barker launched to 143-10 feet, a PR, while all the other four competitors also reached PR’s.
The Wolves track and field teams will switch gears and change direction when they touch down in Portland, Oregon in the Lewis & Clark Invitational on April 14.
Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu
Photo by: Paul F. Davis
