INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

The Foresters brought home nine All-Conference praises from the Crossroads League Indoor Championships over the weekend at IWU’s Troyer Fieldhouse.

Senior Dylan Felger claimed two of them as the conference champion in the 400 and 600 meters. He won the 600 on Friday in 1:19.25 which is the currently third fastest time in the NAIA. On Saturday he cruised to his win in the 400 by clocking in at an A-standard time of 48.68. Both times are the second fastest times in meet history with Felger owning the fastest time on record based on last year’s meet.

Abbey Gentz was also a conference champ for HU. The freshman harrier not only won the 5000 meters in 17:22.10, but her time also proved an A standard, the fourth time in the NAIA this season, new CL meet record and second best time in HU history. Gentz earned a second All-Conference badge in the 3K by finishing third in an NAIA automatic qualifying time of 10:04.34.

Another newcomer in Destiny Copeland, an Indiana Tech transfer, also made meet history in the triple jump with her mark of 12.12 meters to be deemed the conference champion and the new record-holder. She picked up a second All-Conference accolade in long jump with her leap of 5.68 meters good for third place on Friday.

Emily Tedder set a PR in the mile for the third straight meet to round out the HU women’s All-Conference lineup with her third place finish in 5:10.32.

On the men’s side, Kent Yoder ran a great race in the 5000 meters to enjoy a second-place finish. He crossed the line in 14:58.20, an A standard, to be tabbed an All-Conference honoree. Reece Gibson also turned in an All-Conference performance in the mile by finishing third in 4:17.28.

Other point getters for the HU men included:
60 M: Zach Collins (6th | 6.99) – PR of 6.98 in prelims
1000 M: Matthew Hyter (8th | 2:36.24)
3000 M: Reece Gibson (5th | 8:43.92), Kent Yoder (6th |8:48.53)
4×400 M Relay: Josh Whitney, Dylan Felger, Blake Miller, Nick Wilford (5th | 3:29.52)
Pole Vault: Chandler Minnich (7th | 4.35 meters)

Other point getters for the HU women included:
60 M: Destinee McGrady (8th | 8.02)
200 M: Destinee McGrady (4th | 25.67) – HU school record and B standard
1000 M: Emily Tedder (5th | 3:07.99) – PR
Weight Throw: Aanyah Wright (7th | 14.53 meters)
Long Jump: Erica Xayarath (5th | 5.51 meters)
High Jump Erica Xayarath (4th | 1.64 meters)
Triple Jump Erica Xayarath triple jump (4th | 11.32 meters)

Additional Foresters to establish a new PR over the weekend included Blake Miller in the 200 meters (23.67), Isaac Combs in the 1000 meters (2:54.78), Carlton Miller in shot put (11.47 meters), Carter Hull in weight throw (12.08 meters), Mackenzie Brewer in the 800 meters (2:25.80), Shaylynn Reyes in the mile (5:46.79), Trysta Hilton in 60 M hurdles (10.25).

Marian ran away with both team titles having racked up 216 points on the men’s side and 183.5 points on the women’s side. As a team, the HU women nabbed 5th place with 64 points while the men finished 6th with 52 points.

NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships are slated for March 2-4 in Brookings, S.D.

COACH AUSTIN ROARK’S COMMENTS:
“Both teams did a great job competing this weekend. The Crossroads League meet is a great meet, and it was fun to see how our athletes stacked up against the rest of the league. We had multiple PR’s and conference records go down. Destiny Copeland did a great job of battling back and putting together a good triple jump performance. The big performance of the meet was Abbey Gentz in the 5000m, breaking the league record and taking the win. It was nice seeing Dylan Felger getting back on track and running some good times. Our group is excited to get to nationals!”