Dagrin Opens Outdoor Campaign with Win, Qualifying Mark
Des Moines–The Statesmen track and field teams began their outdoor seasons Saturday as they competed at the Grand View Viking Relays.
Fresh off his All-America performance in the indoor campaign, Loubert Dagrin (So., Miami, Fla., Sociology) punched his ticket for Gulf Shores, Ala. in late May by winning the 110-meter hurdles in a provisional standard time of 14.64 seconds.
Tom Nyandoro (Fr., Wake Forest, N.C., Computer Science) also claimed gold, winning the triple jump with a jump of 42-7.
Justin Moeller (Jr., Keota, Iowa, Psychology) twice just missed out on titles, finishing second in the high jump (6-2.75) and third in the long jump (21-6.75).
As per the norm, WPU was strong in the 100-meter dash with three individuals in the top 10. Showalter Johnson (Fr., Nassau, Bahamas) earned runner-up status in 10.77 seconds, while Nick Richardson-Jackson (Sr., Germantown, Md.) was fourth in 10.83 and Joel Brown (Sr., Columbus, Ga., Engineering Technology) was sixth in 10.90.
Jaelen Love (Sr., Crown Point, Ind., Secondary Education) topped a top-10 duo in the 200-meter dash, placing second in 22.17, while Josh Ogden (Jr., Sarasota, Fla.) was seventh in 22.66.
Jaden Loveless (Fr., Des Moines, Iowa) ended up eighth in 23.35 and also secured a top-half showing in the 400-meter dash (52.15). Torian Kingston (Sr., Queens, N.Y., Sports Management) was the navy and gold’s top 400 competitor, ending up seventh in 52.05 seconds.
William Penn put two in the top 10 in the 800-meter run with Kenneth Bolton III (Sr., South Riding, Va., Business Management) finishing third (2:05.07) and DaMonte Sherod (So., Florissant, Mo., Mechanical Engineering) placing seventh (2:11.49). Chace Hamilton (Fr., Melrose, Iowa, Undecided) just finished outside the top 10 in the event (11th, 2:13.90).
The duo of Brandon Williams (Fr., Fountain, Colo., Civil Engineering) (18th, 4:32.03) and Axel Vazquez (Jr., Wray, Colo., Sports Management) (20th, 4:35.21) both managed to get in the top half of the 1,500-meter run field.
On the throwing side, Jace Lukefahr (Jr., Newton, Iowa) took seventh in the shot put (41-0.25) and Jeremiah Conteh (So., Shorewood, Wis., English) was eighth in the hammer (131-9).
Katherine Hunter (Sr., Bloomfield, Iowa) and Abigaille Batu-Tiako (So., Plattsburgh, N.Y.) guided William Penn’s women’s crew by winning titles. Hunter earned her gold in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:12.24, while Batu-Tiako was first in the long jump at 16-7.
Danisha Washington (Sr., Peoria, Ill.) and Raven Williams (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.) were next with bronze accomplishments. Washington placed third in the 100 in 12.93, while Williams was third in the 400 in 1:02.86.
DeAvae Adderley (Fr., Nassau, Bahamas) was right behind Williams in the 400 with a fourth-place showing in 1:03.71. Alexandra Rose (So., Quincy, Ill.) and Taylor Washington (Sr., Upper Marlboro, Md.) joined Danisha Washington in the 100’s top 10 as Rose was seventh (13.33) and Taylor Washington was eighth (13.66).
Tabitha Rogers (Fr., Venice, Calif.) posted a top-10 effort in the 200, taking ninth in 28.35.
The throwing trio of Phoebe Burt (Fr., Coralville, Iowa), Deriana Bryant (Jr., Woodlynne, N.J.), and Danielle Gundling (So., Yorba Linda, Calif., Elementary Education) made their marks in the discus. Burt was sixth (125-8), Bryant was 15th (102-1), and Gundling was 16th (101-1).
Next Up: William Penn travels to Fayette, Mo. next Friday and Saturday to compete in the Central Methodist Invitational.
