Seddon and 4×1 Qualify, Boma Breaks Record at Central Invite

William Penn University Athletics

Pella–Warmer weather helped the Statesmen track and field teams to big results at the Central Invitational Saturday.

Derek Seddon (Sr., Knoxville, Iowa, Physical Education) paced William Penn’s individuals as he qualified for nationals in the hammer throw, while the men’s 4×100-meter relay team also locked up a spot at nationals. Jamal Boma (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa, Business Management and Physical Education) had a strong day as well by breaking the 1,500-meter run record.

As a team, the Statesmen men were second with 131 points, while Simpson claimed the crown with 173.5 points.

The William Penn men notched three event victories, including the 4×1 securing a ‘B’ standard time of 41.97 seconds. Seddon, at 174-6 in the discus, and Earl George (Sr., Gaithersburg, Md., Biology), at 19-9 in the long jump, also topped their respective fields. George was a member of the 4×1 crew that also included Tristen Elmore (Fr., Ovied, Fla., Physical Education), Chris Leiba (Fr., Olympia, Wash., Business Management), and Malik Brown (Jr., Long Beach, Calif., Psychology).

Seddon, who entered having already qualified for nationals in the discus, was second in the hammer with an ‘A’ standard toss of 173-4. The senior was also third in the shot put at 49-5.5.

Boma broke a 13-year-old record (previously held by Demetrius Byrd at 4:05.71) with a time of 4:03.88.

Seddon was not the only athlete to have multiple high finishes.

In addition to his long jump win, George was also fifth in the javelin at 144-1. Chris Leiba (Fr., Olympia, Wash., Business Management) had a silver in the 200-meter dash (22.92) and a bronze in the 100 (11.21), while Derrick Smith (Fr., Olympia, Wash., Physical Education) took third in the triple jump (40-1.5) and fifth in the long jump (19-1.5).

Thrower Derek Robinson (Jr., Jenks, Okla., Communications) ended up third in the discus (151-10) as well as fifth in the hammer (160-11).

Tristen Elmore (Fr., Ovied, Fla., Physical Education) guided WPU’s sprinters, taking second in the 100 at 11.20.

Zane Jacobs (Fr., Idabel, Okla., Business Management) led the navy and gold’s high jumpers (3rd, 6-1.25) and Kewan Slaton (Fr., Lakeland, Tenn., Computer Science) was the program’s best 400 runner (50.90). The 4×400-meter relay (3:28.27) placed third and Malik Brown (Jr., Long Beach, Calif., Psychology) finished fifth in the 200 (23.16).

The William Penn women were sixth in the team standings with 61 points; Clarke took home the trophy with 131.16 points.

Vashti Nwagbaraocha (So., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) headlined the group’s efforts, winning the high jump at 5-3.

Second-place finishes were recorded by Taylor Richardson (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Undecided) in the long jump (15-4.75), Asia Laudermilch (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education) in the 100 (12.70), and Becky Cleppe (Fr., St. Petersburg, Fla., Physical Education) in the javelin (99-8). Cleppe was also fifth in the hammer at 127-9.

Elayna VanArsdale (Fr., Bensalem, Pa., Secondary Education) managed bronze in the discus (120-11), Guadalupe Gonzalez (Jr., Houston, Texas, Exercise Science) finished fourth in the 1,500 (5:08.60), and Akilah Dorsey (Fr., Maywood, Ill., Psychology) crossed the line in fifth in the 400 (1:02.45).

“Our athletes took advantage of the improved conditions and really performed well for just our second outdoor meet,” Head Coach Allen Friesen said.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Fayette, Mo. next Saturday to compete in the Central Methodist Invitational.