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.

McPherson Open

McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College track and field team opened the 2010 outdoor season on a high note, as sophomore David Parry won the 800-meters and junior Andrea Swanson posted an NAIA National ‘B’ Standard throw in the shot put Saturday afternoon at McPherson Stadium.

“I was pleased with our performance,” said McPherson coach Joe Eby. “We had some solid performances for the start of the outdoor season and even a few PR’s. I am excited to see what we can do in the weeks to come. It will be nice to be able to compete on a more regular basis from here on out. I think it will help without team progress. We still have some things to work on, but we are going in a great direction."

In the men’s 800 meters, Parry held a slight lead over Tabor’s Justin Ball coming into the final 100-meters of the race. It was a sprint between the two athletes with Parry edging Ball at the line with a time of 1:58.77.

Coming off a recent trip to the NAIA Indoor National Meet in Johnson City, Tenn., Swanson took third in the shot put with a throw of 12.91 meters. The throw was good for third place behind Mollie Dahl (13.96 meters) and Amber Dunham (13.22 meters) of Bethany College.

Other highlights on the women’s side included freshman Shireana Robinson finishing fourth in both the women’s 100 meter and 200 meter dash with times of 13.01 seconds and 27.43, respectively. The meet was the first of Robinson’s career. Along with Robinson, sophomore Rachel Leuthold took third in the pole vault with a vault of 3.20 meters.

On the men’s side, sophomore Javier Ceja was the top collegiate finisher, but second overall in the 1500 meters. Ceja posted a time of 4:15.23. Other notables included freshman Kyle Smith taking fourth in the 5,000 meters (16:40.83), freshman Ben Barker finishing eighth in the 100 and 200 meter dash (11.41; 23.15), freshman Garret Sharp took sixth in the high jump (1.78 meters), and freshman Grant Miller finished eighth in the men’s hammer throw at 35.65 meters.

The men’s 4x100 meter relay team finished in the third position with a time of 44.10.

The Bulldogs will now prepare for next weekend’s Tabor Invite. The meet is schedule to begin at 10:00 a.m. in Hillsboro, Kan.

NAIA indoor nationals in Johnson City TN

Johnson City, Tenn. – McPherson College’s Mitch Krier, Andrea Swanson and Javier Ceja came away from their national championship meet appearance with mixed emotions, but having gained invaluable experience at the national level.

Krier was the top Bulldog finishing in fifth place in the men’s pole vault with a vault of 4.85 meters to seal his place as an NAIA All-American. Krier cleared both his opening height of 4.70 meters and 4.85 meters on his first attempt, but failed on his attempts at 5.00 meters.

Ceja, who competed on Friday in the men’s 5,000 meters finished in 31st place with a time of 15:43.59.

On the women’s side, junior Andrea Swanson threw 42’8”, improving on her previous nationals mark of 40’5.5”. Swanson ended the meet in 12th place out of 29 participants.

The Bulldogs will open their 2010 outdoor season next Saturday, March 13, when they host their annual McPherson Invitational.