Watts to Return to Nationals; Thompson, Alexander Just Miss Times
William Penn University Athletics
Naperville, Ill.–In their final attempts to qualify for nationals, one of three William Penn track and field athletes locked up a spot at the Dr. Keeler Invitational hosted by North Central Friday.
CJ Watts (Jr., Rockville, Md., Physical Education) snuck in to ‘The Show’ with an NAIA ‘B’ time of 48.37 seconds to finish third in the 400-meter dash. He will return to the national meet after earning All-America honors in the indoor campaign (eighth place).
Neiman Thompson (Jr., Rockville, Md., Physical Education) entered the day with a season-best 48.51 seconds in the 400, but he unfortunately could not better that effort. The junior was fifth in 48.52 seconds, only 0.02 seconds shy of the provisional standard.
Sadly, Tarah Alexander (Jr., Cedar, Iowa, Physical Education) was in that same boat as she came up a bit shy of the necessary qualifying time in the 800-meter run. The junior crossed the line in a time of 2:16.18 to place ninth, only 0.18 seconds away from hitting the mark. While it is likely small consolation, the time does break her own school record set two weeks ago.
Watts will join men’s discus thrower Derek Seddon (So., Knoxville, Iowa, Physical Education) (ranked fourth in the NAIA), men’s high jumper Cornelius McCastle (So., McKinney, Texas, Industrial Technology) (ranked 20th), and women’s shot putter Meaghan Foster (Jr., Centerville, Iowa, Physical Education) (ranked 21st) at the NAIA National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. on May 22-24.
