(EMPORIA, Kan.) – The Mules and Jennies track squads competed at the Sam Williams Emporia State Twilight Qualifier, recording a number of strong performances. The meet served as final preparation for the teams before they compete at the NCAA Championships later this month.
Freshman Chris Swearingin improved upon the school record he set a week ago, winning the javelin throw with a toss of 209′ (63.70m). Swearingin moves into ninth place in the nation in the javelin, and with a provisional qualifying mark he has a strong chance to earn a berth to the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Senior Zak Thompson picked up two more provisional marks, but failed to improve upon any season-high figures, placing second in the shot put and third in the discus. Thompson threw for 55′ 0.25” (16.77m) in the shot put, coming up just shy of the distance he threw at last week’s MIAA Championships. In the discus, the Walnut Grove native threw for 169′ 10” (51.76m), recording his highest mark since competing at the Pittsburg State Gorilla Classic last month. Thompson stands in 20th place nationally in the shot put, and 21st in the discus.
Two other Mules also hit provisional, but did not improve their season bests. Senior Dalton Moberly earned a third-place finish in the 10,000-meter run, posting a time of 30:30.93. Moberly beat the provisional standard time, but came up just five seconds short of the time he posted at the Mount SAC Relays in April. Moberly currently stands 29th in the NCAA Division II performance list.
Sophomore Joseph Holland qualified for the finals in the 110-meter hurdles final, with a sixth-place finish in the preliminaries. Holland recorded a time of 14.57, reaching another provisional mark. Holland ranks 31st nationally after recording a 14.44 during the Emporia State Relays last month.
For the Jennies, three athletes posted provisional marks, but none set new season-highs to improve their standing for the upcoming national meet. Junior Mary Riley took the javelin title, the third in her UCM career, with a throw of 142′ 2” (43.34m). Riley has already clinched a spot at the NCAA Championships, recording an automatic mark at Pittsburg State in April.
Sophomore Brooke Swearingin placed second in the discus, throwing for 150′ 7” (45.91m). Swearingin earned a provisional, and ranks 12th in Division II. Freshman Brittany Kallenberger had another strong performance in the pole vault, clearing 11′ 6.25” (3.51m), good for a provisional but shy of her personal record of 12′ 1.5” from last week’s MIAA Championships.
The Mules and Jennies will now wait for the official entry list for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which begin May 23 in Pueblo, Colo.