OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

Over the course of the two-day Crossroads League Championships at Grace, the HU track and field program produced five league champions, saw 14 Foresters rack up 23 All-Conference honors, hit four NAIA “A” standards and three NAIA “B” standards.

Emma Wilson was a two-time league champ. In addition to winning the 1500 meters in 4:29.30, the sophomore harrier buddied up with Hannah Wappes, Jessica Chojnacki and Aspen Dirr to run away from the competition in the 4×800 meter relay by clocking in with a winning time of 9:16.80.

It was the first time this spring HU ran this relay, and their performance didn’t disappoint as the foursome not only hit the “A” mark, but their time is the fastest in the NAIA.

Wappes collected two other All-Conference badges for Huntington in addition to punching her ticket to Nationals two more times. The Manchester transfer took second in the 5000 meters (17:38.73) and third in the 1500 meters (4:40.10), both of which were “B” marks and landed her the third and fourth spot in the HU history books respectively.

Dirr earned All-Conference praises twice. In addition to running a leg of the 4×800 meter relay, the Hudson native also ran the open 800 meters where she finished second in 2:12.97 good for an “A” standard. Her time is currently the fourth fastest time in the NAIA.

Other point-getters for Childs’ crew included Chojnacki in the 800 meters (6th, 2:17.38*PR), Sydney Lambert in the 800 meters (8th, 2:18.97*PR), Brandy Michie in javelin (8th, 28.99 meters), Saige Norris in the 5000 meters (6th, 18:14.78*PR) and the 4×400 meter relay team (Ashley Berndl, Chojnacki, Olivia Von Gunten, Lambert) (5th, 4:15.21).

The Marian women left little double they were the champions with 200.5 points followed by IWU (132), Taylor (124.5), Bethel (113), Grace (100), HU (59), Saint Francis (37), Mount Vernon (31), Spring Arbor (30) and Goshen (20).

On the men’s side, the 4×800 meter relay team made up of Haile Stutzman, Adrien Gentie, Josiah Sovine and Elijah Chesterman took first in 7:41.88. Like the women, it was an “A” mark. It also proved a new school record and is currently the third fastest time in the NAIA.

Stutzman was a double-winner for HU having also won the 5000 meters in 14:40.29. Dylan Felger rounded out Huntington’s first place finishers by winning the 400 meter hurdles in 53.84.

Felger earned a second All-Conference accolade in the 4×400 meter relay by teaming up with Heath Atkins, Sovine and Riley Meek to finish third in 3:22.43. It was also Sovine’s second All-Conference honor.

Gentie (3:55.35) and Chesterman (3:56.38) ran to a second and third place finish in the 1500 meters respectively for their second piece of All-Conference hardware. Gentie’s time was also good enough for a “B” standard.

Kent Yoder ran an incredible race in the 10,000 meters where he finished second in 30:18.03. His time earned him All-Conference honors, hit the “A” standard, proved the third fastest time in the NAIA and moved him into second in the Forester record books.

Noah Bise also had an All-Conference performance. He finished third in triple jump with a mark of 13.46 meters. Bradey Gerke rounded out the list of All-Conference honorees by taking third in the decathlon with 5553 points. Of the ten events, he finished first in pole vault, shot put and the 100 meters.

Other point-getters for HU included Atkins in long jump (6th, 6.35 meters), Gerke in pole vault (4th, 4.40 meters), Kyler Bourne in pole vault (7th, 4.05 meters) and Gentie in the 5000 meters (4th, 14:50.34).

Marian also claimed the men’s title with 162 points followed by IWU (130), Bethel (123.5), Grace (105), Taylor (92.5), HU (90), Spring Arbor (57), Mount Vernon (47), Goshen (24) and Saint Francis (20).

Next up for Childs and crew is the NAIA National Championships set for May 26-28 in Gulf Shores, Alabama.