Tiger track and field teams get in final tune-up prior to the region meet

With the Jayhawk Conference/Region VI meet approaching, the nationally ranked Cowley College men's and women's indoor track and field teams continued to get solid performances while competing at the Eighth Annual Gorilla Classic held Friday and Saturday in Pittsburg, KS.

"This was a good opportunity for us to compete at a great facility heading into championship week," Cowley head coach Cameron Rieth said.

Sixty-two teams competed at the meet held at Pittsburg State University.

"Just getting into the meet was good for us," Rieth said.                    

The Tiger men were led by Abner Johnson (shot put) and Santiago Nunez (5,000-meter run), hitting national qualifying marks, while sophomore Goran Duijsters narrowly missed the national qualifying mark and school record in the 800-meter run. Aidan Wells also ran well and had a personal best time in the 3,000-meter run.

The Lady Tigers were led by Arantxa Cortez, placing second in the pole vault, and Kayla McClellan placing sixth in the weight throw, each hitting national qualifying marks. Abigail Pinnock also achieved qualifying for nationals in the 800-meter run, while Andrea Garcia-Gonzalez and Yazmin Reyes ran personal best times in the 3,000-meter run.

"It was good to see some people pop off," Rieth said.

Cowley will return to Pittsburg State Saturday and Sunday for the conference and region meet.

"It will be a dog fight," Rieth said. "We have so many good teams in the region. We would like to see a few more athletes qualify for nationals."

Results:

MEN

*Jaden Schneeberger, 54-8, 18^th; Treavor Green, 54-8, 19^th; Abner Johnson, 48-0, 31^st; Julien Washington, 46-4, 34^th; Jean De-Dixon, 43-1, 40^th.

*Shot put – Johnson, 51-8, 11th, national qualifier; Schneeberger, 46-5, 29^th; Lance Blubaugh, 42-2, 36^th.

*Pole vault – Luke Faulkner, 14-2, ninth; Riley Hunter, 13-7, 13^th.

*60-meter hurdles – Felipe Mentz, 9.27, 41^st; Garrah Bauer, 9.49, 47^th.

*60-meter dash – K'Anthony Benjamin, 7.09, 40^th; Bruno Tommaso, 7.23, 70^th.

*200-meter dash – Benjamin, 21.94, 24^th; Siyabonga Jiyane, 21.99, 27^th; Jeremy Garcia, 23.11, 75^th; Charles Barlow, 23.23, 78^th.

*800-meter run – Goran Duijsters, 1:52.70, 11^th, national qualifier; Randy Rojas-Mendez, 1:58.50, 53^rd; Dylan Roe, 2:06.64, 71^st.

*3,000-meter run – Aidan Wells, 8:52.52, 40^th.

*5,000-meter run – Santiago Nunez, 15:13.78, 31^st, national qualifier.

*Distance Medley Relay – Cowley "A", 10:31.18, 22^nd.

WOMEN

*Weight throw – Kayla McClellan, 55-6 ½, sixth, national qualifier; Sarah Robinson, 41-3, 31^st; McKenna Markle, 40-8 ¾, 32^nd.

*Shot put – Jamilet Bautista Infante, 38-2, 21^st; Chloe Grusing, 35-8, 35^th.

*Pole vault – Arantxa Cortez, 11-9, national qualifier, second.

*Triple jump – Abby Rueschhoff, 35-9 ½, 14^th.

*60-meter hurdles – LaShae' Smith, 9.85, 36^th; Gracie Shire, 10.49, 52^nd; Mercedes Glover, 10.97, 53^rd.

*200-meter dash – Isabella Kupka, 25.91, 40^th; Genesis Bautista, 27.37, 77^th.

*400-meter dash – Kupka, 58.03, 14^th.

*800-meter run – Abigail Pinnock, 2:22.53, 40^th, national qualifier.

*3,000-meter run – Andrea Garcia-Gonzalez, 10:57.75, 41^st; Yazmin Reyes, 11:16.99, 47^th.

*Distance Medley Relay – Cowley "A", 13:32.07, 18^th.