Statesmen Ready for Outdoor Nationals Trip
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–A total of six William Penn outdoor track and field athletes have their sights set on top performances as the Statesmen compete at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships this week.
The Championships will be held in Gulf Shores, Ala. from Thursday-Saturday, and WPU will get rolling on Thursday with Derek Seddon (Jr., Knoxville, Iowa, Physical Education) competing in the hammer throw at 1 p.m. (Eastern)
Seddon, who is also in the shot put and discus fields, enters the hammer in 19th place at 173-11, while Zebuliah Hoffman of Evergreen State (Wash.) is at the top of the performance list at 212-9.
The junior will then join teammate Derek Robinson (So., Jenks, Okla., Communications) in the discus at 5 p.m. on Friday. Seddon is ranked third (179-11) and Robinson is 24th (158-5); Jacob Armbrust of Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) is first at 191-2.
Seddon ranks 17th in his third qualifying event–the shot put–with a toss of 51-8.5. Kalob Gist (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Business Management) is 23rd in the nation at 51-1 and both Statesmen will be chasing Zachary Lurz of Concordia (Neb.) at 59-1.25. The men’s shot put will be contested on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Meaghan Foster (Sr., Centerville, Iowa, Physical Education) will be seeking to close out her collegiate career with a big effort in Friday’s shot put (1 p.m. start). She currently ranks 22nd (43-3.75), while Kali Robb (Concordia-Neb.) is #1 at 49-5.
On the running side, 400-meter dash athletes Neiman Thompson (Sr., Rockville, Md., Physical Education) and CJ Watts (Sr., Rockville, Md., Physical Education) will go to work in Friday’s trials (beginning at 3:50 p.m.). Thompson enters 10th in a time of 47.87 seconds, while Watts is 20th at 48.27. Phoenix Miller of Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) has posted the top time of the year in 46.97 seconds.
If Thompson or Watts finish in the top eight, they will qualify for the finals, which will be held Saturday at 4:40 p.m.
Cornelius McCastle (Jr., McKinney, Texas, Industrial Technology) also qualified in the high jump (9th, 6-9.75), but unfortunately will not be able to compete due to an injury suffered a few weeks ago.
