Green Snaps Records, but No Awards Won at Track Nationals
William Penn University Athletics
Geneva, Ohio–Friday marked the end of the 2011-2012 indoor track and field season for William Penn, but its top representatives did not depart without a roar at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships.
A day after the women’s 4×4 team broke its own school record, male sprinter Gabriel Green (Jr., Anniston, Anniston HS) and female hurdler Audre Harris (So., Junction City, Kan., Allen CC) were equally impressive on the second day of the Championships.
Green opened his nationals week by snapping his program mark (6.93 seconds) in the preliminary round of the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.90 seconds. That helped the junior to qualify for the semifinals as he was 12th out of 19.
He then bettered that time with a finish of 6.88 seconds, but unfortunately he again placed 12th and was unable to advance to Saturday’s finals.
The top time of 6.66 seconds was recorded by Brijesh Lawrence of Doane (Neb.), while the final qualifying spot went to Allen Huntley of Shorter (Ga.) in 6.81 seconds.
Green continued his solid outing with a school-record 200 time of 21.82 seconds (old mark was 21.87 by Green). Although it is the best time in William Penn history, it only netted him 15th place out of 22 in the semifinals (no prelims). Lawrence again led the field, crossing the line at 21.07, while Sheldon Williams of Southern-New Orleans (La.) was the final individual to qualify for the finals at 21.46 seconds.
Harris did not set a new Lady Statesmen standard, but was able to demolish her own 2012 season best with a 60-meter hurdles time of 9.15 seconds (old best was 9.42) in the prelims.
The time was good for 14th out of 22 competitors, allowing her to move on to the semifinals. The sophomore then passed over the stripe in 9.26 seconds to place 15th (top eight advanced).
Breanna Leslie of Azusa Pacific (Calif.) guided the field at 8.54 seconds, while Briana Vander Woude of Dordt qualified in eighth place at 8.90.
Jalen Wilson (Fr., Desoto, Texas, Duncanville HS) gave a gutsy performance as he faced the long jump with an injured ankle. The freshman eclipsed just 21-8.75, but injured and all, he still managed to place 13th out of 16 athletes.
Trebor Holmes of Shorter was the NAIA’s best at 25-4.5. Wilson’s national-qualifying mark of 23-4 would have placed him fifth Friday evening.
