Cavs Win 15 Event Titles at Wildcat Open
COMPLETE RESULTS
McMINNVILLE, Ore.—Travelling with a nearly full squad for the first time in the outdoor season, the Concordia track & field teams combined to win 15 titles at the Wildcat Open, hosted by Linfield College on Saturday.
In addition to the wins, the Cavaliers notched nine NAIA automatic qualifying marks with eight pulling from the various throwing disciplines.
Competing for the first time since winning individual indoor national titles, Willy Irwin and Gabriella Dixson earned NAIA ‘A’ qualifiers in both the shot put and the discus.
Irwin captured the win in the men’s shot with a throw of 60-0 1/4 (18.29m) while Dixson launched a 47-3 3/4 (14.42m) to dominate the women’s field.
The duo dominated the discus with Irwin unleashing a meet-best 171-5 (52.26m) and Dixson a 154-4 (47.05m). Emily Redmayne-Titley added a third auto qualifier in the discus with a 141-6 (45.13m).
In the hammer, returning NAIA national champion Sharayah Kenady wasted little time in putting notice of a second title to the rest of the country with a school record in her first attempt of the season.
Kenady uncorked a 197-10 (60.31m) to win the competition by more than 30 feet while adding more than seven feet to her former school mark of 1903 (57.98m).
In the men’s hammer, Bo Johnson nearly replicated the personal record feat with a throw of 193-5 (58.96m), just off his career best of 195-10 which was set at the CCC Championships last season. Adam Riddle, meanwhile, started his 2013 season with a huge personal record after a toss of 188-10 (57.57m) to earn automatic entry into the NAIA championship.
The Cavaliers also earned a win in the women’s javelin as Robbie Langrell moved up four places on her final throw of the day. Langrell earned the win by just over a full foot with a 116-3 (35.44m).
Ethan Moore gave the Cavs its third multiple winner of the day with gold in the long jump (22-1 1/2) and triple jump (44-6).
On the track, CU swept both the 800- and 1,500-meter runs. Linsie Michels controlled the women’s 800 with a 2:16.70 while Demetrius Rhodes won in the final steps with a 1:55.75.
Moving up to the 1,500, Mikel Elliott was clocked in 4:44.72 and Roman Kirkov opened his collegiate outdoor career with a 4:05.05 for first place.
Concordia’s final winners came from Joshua Bland and Maxwell Waters. Bland crossed the line in 50.36 in the open while Waters topped the field in the 110-meter hurdles with a 15.90.