Watts, Robinson Qualify in Busy Weekend
William Penn University Athletics
Lawrence, Kan./Dubuque–The Statesmen track and field teams continued to impress this spring as two more individuals qualified for nationals at the Kansas Relays and Dubuque Invitational this week.
At Kansas on Thursday and Friday, CJ Watts (Sr., Rockville, Md., Physical Education) joined the qualifying list by hitting the automatic standard in the 400-meter dash in a time of 48.27 seconds. The senior placed 18th in the competition.
Watts, the squad’s second 400 qualifier, will join Neiman Thompson (Sr., Rockville, Md., Physical Education) who was 14th in a time of 48.09 seconds.
Tarah Alexander (Sr., Cedar, Iowa, Physical Education) had an equally big day, breaking her own school record in the 1,500-meter run in 4:48.60; the senior was 16th overall.
Derek Seddon (Jr., Knoxville, Iowa, Physical Education), who competed in three separate events, had WPU’s highest finish at the Relays by taking 10th in the shot put at 51-5.75. He was 13th in the discus (159-11) and 14th in the hammer (158-8) as well.
Kalob Gist (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Business Management) was in the shot put competition as well, placing 15th at 48-9.5.
Cornelius McCastle (Jr., McKinney, Texas, Industrial Technology) was 11th in the high jump at 6-4.75, while Payton Busch (Jr., Centerville, Iowa, Secondary Education) finished 28th in the 800-meter run in 1:58.45.
Meaghan Foster (Sr., Centerville, Iowa, Physical Education) competed in the women’s shot put and was 16th at 42-2.25.
On Saturday in Dubuque, the men finished fourth out of 10 teams with 62 points, while the women were seventh with 33 points. Dubuque dominated its own meet, taking both the men’s (174 points) and women’s titles (173 points).
Numerous individuals had top-10 efforts, but no one matched the incredible showing by Derek Robinson (So., Jenks, Okla., Communications). The sophomore launched a huge personal best in the discus, both winning the event and more importantly qualifying for nationals with an ‘A’ mark of 158-5.
He becomes the seventh Statesmen qualifier in five different events. Robinson was also fourth in the shot put at 46-3.25. Gist bettered him by two positions, taking second at 48-4.
Matthew Cuthbert (Fr., Yucaipa, Calif., Sociology) was another big thrower for WPU, placing fifth in the discus (136-4) and 10th in the shot put (40-9).
Earl George (Jr., Gaithersburg, Md., Biology) produced a decathlon-type day, competing in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, high jump, long jump, and pole vault. His day was highlighted by placing seventh in the 100 in 11.38 seconds.
Malik Brown (So., Long Beach, Calif., Psychology), in fourth (11.31), and Michael Hubbard (Fr., Gary, Ind., Exercise Science), in 10th (11.42), also ran in the 100.
110-meter hurdlers Markenson Charles (Jr., Lehigh Acres, Fla., Industrial Technology) (3rd, 15.85) and Tyler Albert (Fr., Eldon, Iowa, Engineering Technology) (6th, 16.90) were also in the top 10 as was Charles Hurt (Fr., Gary, Ind., Sociology) who was 10th in the 400 (53.50 seconds).
Foster was at the top on the women’s side, taking second in the shot put (41-3.25) and sixth in the hammer (138-0).
Taylor Richardson (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Undecided) was a two-time placer as well, landing in third in the long jump at 16-7 and seventh in the 400 in a time of 1:04.49.
Other top-10 finishers included Amanda Schrempf (Sr., Marshalltown, Iowa, Sociology) (3rd, javelin, 103-5), Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Fr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) (3rd, high jump, 5-3), and Alora Simmons (Sr., Newton, Iowa, Elementary Education) (7th, high jump, 4-11).
Next Up: William Penn will potentially split up its team again next week. While most of the squad will travel to Kirksville, Mo. Thursday for the Truman Twilight, a few select individuals may earn berths to the Drake Relays in Des Moines (Thursday-Saturday).
