National Champions Tabbed Red Lion Players of the Week
LA GRANDE, Ore.- Five CCC student athletes named National Champions at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships have earned the Red Lion Player of the Week recognition for the week of May 18-24.
Joelle Swanson, Oregon Tech ( Javelin)
Joelle Swanson made history becoming Oregon Tech's first ever female Track and Field National Champion. Swanson set a new school and person record with her throw of 158'-0.25" (48.16 M) in the Javelin shattering the previous record held by Sarah Shelb of 155'-10" set in 2010. Swanson also becomes Oregon Tech's first ever four-time All-American in a single event.
Amelia Maguin, Southern Oregon ( 400 Hurdles)
Amelia Maquin was crowned National Champion in the women's 400 hurdles. A runner-up the last two years, Maguin broke her own school record for the fourth time this season with a time of 58.96 seconds. The runner-up, Taylor Neehham of Southwestern (Kan.), was 1.92 seconds back, making it the biggest margin of victory in the event at the meet in six years. Maguin ended her SOU career as the fourth three-time outdoor All-American in Raider women's history.
McKenzie Warren, Concordia ( Discus)
McKenzie Warren was crowned National Champion in the women's discus at the NAIA National Championships held in Gulf Shores, Ala. Warren opened the day as the No. 3-ranked thrower in the country and unleashed a career-best 173-0 3/4 (52.74m) on her opening attempt for the title. The win represented the seventh title in the women's discus over the past nine years for Concordia.
Dylan Alexander, Southern Oregon ( 5,000 meters)
Dylan Alexander used a stunning kick over the final 400 meters to win a National Championship in the men's 5,000 meter race at the NAIA National Championships. Alexander, the No. 3 seed, only led for about a second of the men's 5K. He cruised behind leader Geoffrey Kipchumba of William Carey (Miss.) until making his push in the final 400 meters, making up a gap of nearly five seconds. His long strides prevailed at the finish, where he came in at 14:45.74 to Kipchumba's 14:46.18, becoming the 12th SOU men's outdoor champion and just the third in a running event.
Matthew Clowes, Concordia (1,500 meters)
Matthew Clowes was crowned National Champion in the men's 1,500 at the NAIA National Championships this past weekend. Clowes,capped his collegiate career with his fourth NAIA National Championship by fending off a late challenge in the 1,500, winning with a time of 4:00.11. Clowes previously won titles in the mile, 3,000 and as a member of the distance medley relay during the NAIA Indoor National Championships last March.