Shaw Starts Outdoor Season with Qualifying Mark

Des Moines–Crystal Shaw (Fr., Austin, Texas, Applied Computer Science) opened her first collegiate outdoor campaign with a huge jump as the William Penn women’s track and field team competed at the Grand View Viking Relays Saturday.

In her first attempt in the triple jump, Shaw, who won the event, launched off and recorded an NAIA provisional-qualifying mark of 38-9.5. The freshman also won the long jump with a distance of 17-10.75.

Claire Rye (Fr., Plymouth, Iowa, Biology) and Emma Heath (Fr., Picayune, Miss., Exercise Science) won crowns in individual competitions as well. Rye did so in the 5,000-meter run in 20:14.99, while Heath hit a height of 8-2 in the pole vault.

The 4×100-meter relay team of Adedoyin Aderibigbe (Fr., Cedar Hill, Texas, Sociology), Hellen Doerue (Fr., Waukee, Iowa, Nursing), Ellysse Johns (So., Houston, Texas, Psychology), and Lilly Ostert (Jr., Madrid, Iowa, Exercise Science) was a gold winner in 49.49 seconds.

The 4×400-meter relay squad of Doerue, Johns, Akeelah Anderson (Fr., Dubuque, Iowa, Nursing), and Emmalee Wells-Stout (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Business Management) claimed the top spot as well in a time of 4:25.03.

Wells-Stout was not finished, also picking up a third place in the 100-meter hurdles in 16.24 seconds.

Additionally, Isabella Fulks (So., Cypress, Texas, Nursing) notched a runner-up showing in the hammer throw at 129-6, while Janelle Harrell (Fr., Davenport, Iowa, Nursing) gave WPU two top-five finishers in the long jump as she took fourth at 15-9.75.

“Our women were enjoying the hot weather today, so much so that Crystal Shaw qualified off her first jump in the triple jump,” Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said. “She is starting to figure some things out and really come into her own, just like the rest of our women, which is great to see.”