GULF SHORES, Ala. – Eastern Oregon University claimed one national championship on the final day of the 2014 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships as Hans Roelle won the National Title in the 800 meter run. EOU earned 10 All-American honors at the meet.
Claiming the first National Championship at the 2014 NAIA Outdoor National Championships for EOU was Hans Roelle as he won the 800 meter run in a time of 1:50.35. Roelle ran near the front of the pack for the entire 800 meter race. With 300 meters to go, Roelle made his move and went from third to first place. Coming out of the final turn, Roelle and John Hester of Indiana Tech were neck and neck. Once Roelle took the lead he held off Hester at the line by .03 seconds to win the 800 meter run. The win also earns him All-American honors.
In the 5,000 meter run, Damion Flores finished second and earned All-American honors. Flores finished the 5,000 meter run in a time of 14:44.07. Flores ran in the top three positions for the entire race and was in third place on the final lap. With 200 meters to go, Sam Atkins, Flores and David Mountford looked for their last kick. Atkins ran away with first place as he finished three seconds in front of Flores and Flores held off Mountford to finish in second place.
Earning the first All-American honors on the day for EOU was Lucas Updike in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Updike finished fourth in the race with a time of 9:06.87, the second fastest time in EOU school history for the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
Running in the back of the field for the first three laps of the race, he made his move with four laps to go. Updike found himself in 10th place before starting to make his move as he improved six spots over the last four laps to earn All-American honors.
Kadie Booth claimed her first of two All-American honors in the 400 meter run on Saturday. In the 400 meter run, Booth broke the school record for the second straight day as she ran a time of 55.48 to finish fourth.
Booth earned her second All-American honors of the meet when she anchored the 4x400 meter relay team composed of Megan Sullivan, Irene Olivo, Carlondra McGee-Woolbright and Booth, to an eighth place finish. On the fourth and final handoff of the race, Booth dislocated her shoulder on the exchange from McGee-Woolbright but still finished the race to earn All-Amercian honors.The Mountaineers ran a time of 3:57.95.
Harley McBride added her name to the list of Mountaineers who earned All-American honors at the 2014 Outdoor Track and Field Championships. McBride finished seventh at the meet as she cleared a height of 1.68 meters (5-6).
As a team the Mountaineer men’s team finished in eighth place overall with 27 points, while the women’s team finished tied for 26th place as they scored eight points at the championships. The men’s team finish was just off the best ever finish for EOU, which was a seventh place finish at the 2004 Outdoor National Championships.
Eastern Oregon comes home with nine All-Americans from the 2014 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. All of the All-Americans are listed below with their events following.
EOU 2014 Outdoor National Champions
Hans Roelle – Men’s 800 Meter Run
EOUs 2014 All-Americans
Hans Roelle – Men’s 800 Meter Run
Brian Wickham – Men’s Hammer Throw
Megan Sullivan – Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay
Irene Olivo –Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay
Carlondra McGee-Woolbright – Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay
Kadie Booth – Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay
Kadie Booth – Women’s 400 Meter Run
Lucas Updike – Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
Harley McBride – Women’s High Jump
Damion Flores – Men’s 5,000 Meter Run