Edwards Qualifies, Five Titles Won in Season Opener
William Penn University Athletics
Pella–Alex Edwards (Sr., Knoxville, Iowa, Secondary Education) got right back to business as he paced the William Penn indoor track and field teams at the Central Dutch Holiday Preview Saturday.
An indoor All-American a year ago, Edwards qualified for the NAIA National Championships in his first try, winning the 600-meter run in an ‘A’ standard time of 1:20.58. The senior was more than four seconds faster than his next-closest competitor.
Cornelius McCastle (So., McKinney, Texas, Industrial Technology) was among of three other navy and gold male participants to top an event. McCastle was first in the triple jump at 44-8.25 and took runner-up honors in the high jump at 6-4.75.
Malik Brown guided the 300-meter dash group in 36.25 seconds and was third in the 55-meter dash in 6.65 seconds. Jaylin Thomas (So., Baton Rouge, La.) also claimed gold, doing so in the long jump (21-8); he was tenth in the 55 (6.82 seconds).
Joshua Rankin (So., University Park, Ill., Undecided) managed two top-ten placings, finishing sixth in the triple jump at 40-9 and tenth in the long jump at 19-0.
CJ Watts earned a silver in the 300 (36.38 seconds), while the 4×400-meter relay crew was second as well in 3:35.30.
Neiman Thompson paced a large squad of other top-ten finishers by taking fourth in the 300 (36.76 seconds). Spencer Medlin was seventh in the same race (37.35) and Stepfon Williams (Jr., St. Louis, Mo., Industrial Technology) was eighth (37.69). Fellow sprinter Bryan Quintero was seventh in the 55 in a time of 6.78 seconds.
Hurdlers Dakota Gash (7th, 8.14) and Markenson Charles (So., Lehigh Acres, Fla., Mechanical Engineering) (9th, 8.39) did well in the 55-meter race. Derek Robinson was ninth in the shot put at 41-7.75, while Aaron Seddon was also ninth in the weight throw at 38-7.
Meaghan Foster (Jr., Centerville, Iowa, Undecided) headlined the women’s efforts, winning the shot put with a toss of 41-8.5. The junior was also third in the weight throw at 49-0.
A pair of top tens were also secured by Shantell Cortez (So., Des Moines, Iowa, Physical Education) and Courtney Dalton. Cortez was third in the long jump (16-2.5) and ninth in the 55-meter dash (7.70 seconds), while Dalton placed sixth in the 55 (7.67 seconds) and ninth in the 300-meter dash (44.18 seconds).
Kristin Lastovka (Jr., Brooklyn, Iowa, Business Management) gave the navy and gold two high placers as she was fourth in the shot put at 35-3.75. Kenzie Gunter was eighth in the 55-meter hurdles in a time of 9.07 seconds and Shaniece Dishmon (Jr., Harvey, Ill., Physical Education) was tenth in the 55-meter dash (7.75 seconds).
“This was a very promising start to our indoor season,” Head Coach Allen Friesen said. “In addition to Alex’s great time, we had several other athletes close to also qualifying for nationals.”
Next Up: William Penn is off until after the holiday break, returning to action on Friday and Saturday, January 16-17. Team members will compete at the Wartburg Relays in Waverly on Friday and at the Dubuque Sol Butler Classic in Dubuque on Saturday.
