Statesmen Show Well in Final Prep Before Heart Championship

Grinnell–The William Penn men’s indoor track and field team competed one more time before taking on its league foes, battling at the Darren Young Classic hosted by Grinnell Friday and Saturday.

Gavin Huff (Jr., Mascoutah, Ill., Mechanical Engineering) and Nicholas Knowles II (Fr., Nassau, Bahamas, Business Management) led the navy and gold as both individuals placed second. Huff accomplished his feat in the 800-meter run (1:58.82), while Knowles II managed silver in the triple jump (45-1).

Travaughn Robbins-Hall (So., Lauderhill, Fla., Software Engineering) paced a large crew of Statesmen in the 60-meter dash, taking third in 7.02 seconds.

Usir McClellan (Fr., St. Petersburg, Fla., Information Technology) was also in the 60’s top 10, ending up ninth (7.14), while K’Juan Johnson (Fr., Nassau, Bahamas, Business Management) was 13th (7.19), Clarence Reed Jr. (Fr., Des Moines, Iowa, Civil Engineering) was 15th (7.20), and Christopher Smith (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Business Management) was 29th (7.37).

McClelland managed to take 20th in the 200 in 23.52 seconds.

A trio of WPU runners also ended up in the top half of the 3,000-meter field, led by Andrew Miller (Jr., Le Claire, Iowa, Exercise Science) in fourth (8:59.90). Carson Springer (Jr., Grimes, Iowa, Business Management) then took 10th (9:08.17), while Sutton Shively (So., Bloomfield, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) hit the line in 17th (9:24.50).

Brayden Veiseth (Fr., New Sharon, Iowa, Industrial Technology) worked to a top-half placing in the 800-meter run as well, finishing 16th in 2:03.60.

“We had some nice things happen today, and were able to get a few more people qualified in conference,” Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said. “We saw where some people might stand in some relays as well.”

Next Up: William Penn travels to Maryville, Mo. next Friday and Saturday to compete at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship.