(PITTSBURG, Kan.) – On a late night that stretched into the early morning hours due to a weather delay, six UCM track & field athletes reached provisional qualifying marks at the Wendy’s Pittsburg State Open.
A pair of athletes finished the meet with marks that rank in the top five in their respective events, in juniors Devin Claypool, in the men’s high jump, and Mary Riley, in the women’s javelin. Claypool won the high jump, besting a field of 13 athletes with a jump of 2.05m (6′ 8.75″). The indoor track All-American now ranks fourth nationally in the high jump, and has the top mark in the MIAA at this point in the early season.
Riley earned the team’s lone automatic bid during the meet, qualifying for a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with her performance in the javelin. Riley placed second in the event, but was the top Division II finisher, with a throw of 46.41m (152′ 3″), good for the top mark in the MIAA, and third-best in NCAA Division II.
Sophomore thrower Brooke Swearingin posted a new personal record in the hammer throw while earning a provisional in her first outdoor competition of the season. The Odessa, Mo. native threw for 52.27m (171′ 6″) to place second. Swearingin also threw for a personal best in the shot put, where she placed third with a mark of 13.26m (43′ 6″).
After competing in the heptathlon at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational just a day earlier, freshman Brittany Kallenberger picked up a provisional mark in the pole vault, placing second at Pittsburg State. Kallenberger cleared the bar at 3.52m (11′ 6.5″), which places her fourth on UCM’s all-time list in just her first outdoor track meet of her collegiate career. The Lee’s Summit native currently ranks fourth in the MIAA, and 15th nationally in the pole vault.
In the 110-meter hurdles, sophomore Joseph Holland earned his first career provisional qualifying mark, placing third at Pittsburg State. Holland ran a 14.61 in the race, which ranks 20th in the country, and seventh in the MIAA.
Senior Zak Thompson took the victory in the discus throw while earning a provisional, with a throw of 49.56m (162′ 7″). Thompson now sits seven on the MIAA performance list, and 22nd among Division II athletes.
Among other event winners was freshman Chris Swearingin in the men’s javelin (46.98m; 154′ 1″), earning the victory in his first outdoor collegiate meet.
Next up for the Mules and Jennies will be the first of two consecutive trips to Emporia State; UCM will compete at the Emporia State Relays on Saturday, April 6, beginning at 10:30 a.m.