NAIA Nationals

Marion, Ind. – The McPherson College track and field team had two athletes competing in day one of the three-day NAIA Outdoor track and field National Championships. Sophomore Javier Ceja finished 15th in the men’s 10,000-meters, while sophomore David Parry earned a spot in the second preliminary round of the 800-meter dash.

Ceja had a strong performance in his first of two events at the national meet, as the California native finished 15th of 33 runners with a time of 32.23.60. Ceja’s finish was the best amongst the KCAC competitors as he beat out Dan Neidlinger and Matt Ditzler of Friends University. The champion at the men’s 10,000-meters, freshman Kennedy Kithuka of Wayland Baptist University, crossed the finish line with a time of 29:31.99.

Sophomore David Parry continues his Cinderella season as he propelled himself into the second round of preliminaries races with a 1:54.64 in the men’s 800-meters. Parry was 15th of 18 competitors that advance to the next round. Parry’s 1:54.64 is his second fastest time of the season. Oklahoma Christian University sophomore Silas Kisorio posted the top qualifying time with a 1:51.53.

McPherson senior Antowine Lamb ended day two of the 2010 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on a high note for the Bulldogs as he captured the title in the men’s high jump. Lamb, who won the KCAC championship just a few weeks ago, took top honors with a personal record and school record jump of 2.11m (6’-11”).

Take this link to watch Lamb capture the NAIA National Championship in the high jump. http://www2.indwes.edu/naia/event-recordings-may-28.htm

The Topeka, Kan., native started the meet with an easy clearance of 1.96m (6'-5"), before two second attempt makes at 2.01m (6'-7") and 2.06m (6'-9"). With the field narrowed from 22 to six following the 2.06m height, Lamb reeled off a first attempt clearance at the 2.11m mark. He was only one competitor to clear the height on his first attempt and only one of three to cross the bar.

Lamb, along with the other two athletes left in the field, failed in all three attempts at 2.16m. Lamb was awarded the title, because of his clearance on the first attempt. With the win, he becomes the only the second national champion in McPherson College history. The previous champion was Ron Anderson in the men’s discus in 1957.

Three other Bulldogs competed on Friday, including junior Andrea Swanson, sophomore David Parry and sophomore Javier Ceja. Swanson, the only representative from the women’s team, finished 14th in the women’s shot put with a mark of 13.51m (44’-6.25”). The mark is her second best throw of the season.

Parry, who yesterday advanced to the second round of preliminaries, failed to advance to the finals, but had a good showing with a 18th place finish and a time of 1:56.82 in the 800-meters, while Ceja finished 21st in the men’s 5,000-meters preliminaries with a time of 15:27.10.

One day following his championship in the men’s high jump, senior Antowine Lamb was named to the NAIA All-American team. Junior Mitch Krier was the only Bulldog to compete in day three of the national meet held at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.

Lamb’s selection to the NAIA All-American team marks the first in his career and adds another individual to a successful year in McPherson College athletics.

Krier, a junior from Colorado, competed Saturday in the men’s pole vault, but failed to place in the event. After passing on the first two heights, 4.70m (15’-5”) and 4.85m (15’-11”), he knocked the bar on his three attempts at 5.00m (16’-4.75”). A clearance at 5.00m would have placed Krier within the top four. Freshman Stefanos Koufidis of Culver-Stockton College successfully defended his NAIA Indoor Championship with the outdoor title. He was the lone athlete to clear the 5.15m (16’-10.75”) mark.

As a team the McPherson men finished 31st of 68 school, but did not place on the women’s side. The women’s team champions, Azusa Pacific University scored 61 points, while men’s champion Wayland Baptist University tallied 70 points.