Elmore Qualifies Again, Two Records Broken at Sol Butler Classic
William Penn University Athletics
Dubuque–Tristen Elmore (Fr., Ovied, Fla., Physical Education) and Asia Laudermilch (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education) proved their collegiate debuts from December, and those of their teammates, were no fluke as the William Penn track and field teams notched numerous big performances at the Sol Butler Classic hosted by Dubuque Saturday.
Elmore broke a school record and qualified for nationals in another event, while Laudermilch snatched her second program mark in as many meets. As a team, the Statesmen men were second out of 12 teams with 90.5 points (Augustana-Ill. won with 103). WPU’s women’s squad was 12th with 12 points; Loras claimed the title with 110 points.
Elmore nearly hit the seven-foot mark in the high jump, but settled for a consolation prize of a new program record at 6-11. The freshman, who had already qualified in the event, won Saturday’s high jump contest and then also topped the long jump standings with another qualifying mark (‘B’ standard) at 23-0.75.
Laudermilch, who broke the 60-meter dash record last month, placed fourth in the 55-meter dash with a new program mark of 7.43 seconds. She snapped a record (7.51 seconds) that had stood since 1984.
Not to be outshone by his younger comrades, Derek Seddon (Sr., Knoxville, Iowa, Physical Education) was his same old amazing self, winning the weight throw at 58-7 and taking second in the shot put at 51-7.25.
Jumpers Marcus Hastings (So., North Las Vegas, Nev., Sociology) and Earl George (Sr., Gaithersburg, Md., Biology) complemented Elmore as both had a pair of top-10 finishes. Hastings was third in the long jump (22-3.75) and fourth in the high jump (6-2), while George was sixth in the long (21-0.75) and ninth in the high (5-10). Zane Jacobs (Fr., Idabel, Okla., Business Management) also had a solid effort in the high jump, taking third at 6-2.
Chris Leiba (Fr., Olympia, Wash., Business Management) paced the Statesmen sprinters by taking second in the 55-meter dash in 6.61 seconds; the 4×400-meter relay team finished second as well in 3:27.60.
Mykeal Holliman (Fr., Rockford, Ill., Industrial Technology) claimed a bronze in the 200-meter dash in 23.25 seconds, while Clifford Phillips (Sr., Dade City, Fla., Physical Education) placed fifth in the 55 (6.69 seconds). Zack Johnson (Jr., Decatur, Ill., Mechanical Engineering) matched Phillips by also finishing fifth in the 600-meter run in 1:26.44.
Michael Hubbard (So., Gary, Ind., Exercise Science) was sixth in the 200 (23.67 seconds), while Derek Robinson (Jr., Jenks, Okla., Communications) just missed scoring points by ending up ninth in the weight throw (48-2). Charles Hurt (So., Gary, Ind., Sociology) (200, 23.95 seconds) and Markenson Charles (Sr., Lehigh Acres, Fla., Industrial Technology) (55-meter hurdles, 8.30 seconds) each placed 10th Saturday.
In addition to Laudermilch’s effort, three other Statesmen women/relay teams scored points as well. Deja Lewis (Sr., Spring, Texas, Psychology) was seventh in the one-mile run in 5:51.45, while Sabrina Avery (Jr., Riverside, Calif., Sociology) was also seventh in the weight throw at 44-4. The 4×4 crew scored two points as well by taking home seventh in a time of 4:28.81.
“I am very pleased with today’s performances,” Head Coach Allen Friesen said. “We are only going to get better as the season progresses. The great part is that these young men and women have not yet reached their true potential. The future is really bright for these teams!”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Pella next Saturday to compete in the Central Dutch Athletics Classic.
