William Penn Athletics News May 9
William Penn University Athletics
Green Sweeps Sprints to Pace William Penn at Conference
Des Moines–Gabriel Green (So., Anniston, Ala., Anniston HS) was by far the fastest man in the field over the weekend as he helped the Statesmen track and field team at the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships Friday and Saturday.
William Penn placed fourth out of seven teams, scoring 112 points, while Grand View won the team crown with 300 points.
Green took three events at the Championships, claiming gold in the 100, 200, and 400-meter dashes. The sophomore met ‘A’ standards in the 100 (10.65 seconds) and 200 (21.47 seconds) and ran the 400 in 49.91 seconds. Green’s 200 also broke his own school record.
The sophomore’s efforts netted him MCC Male Track Athlete of the Year honors.
Javaras Thomas (Sr., Miami, Fla., Miami Beach HS) was a gold medal winner as well, earning the triple jump victory with a ‘B’ standard distance of 46-9.5. The senior also placed fourth in the long jump at 22-1.5.
Carlos Stepter (Sr., Highland Park, Mich., Highland Park HS) headlined a group of four silver medalists by taking second in the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.70 seconds. He had the fastest 200 preliminary time at 22.32 seconds, but scratched in the final.
Royce Clay (Sr., Miami, Fla., Booker T. Washington HS) was the triple jump runner-up with a ‘B’ standard mark of 46-3.25. The senior scored points in the long as well, finishing fifth at 22-1.
Nick Reynolds (Jr., Riverton, Utah, Iowa Western CC) was second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing in a time of 10:03.41. Although he did not score points, Reynolds did post a top-ten result to his 5,000-meter run (17:16.12).
Green and Stepter guided the 4×100-meter relay squad to a silver in a time of 42.47 seconds.
Four navy and gold fourth-place finishes were tallied at the Championships, including a pair by Kipp Schuler (Sr., Haviland, Kan., Dana) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:17.41) and the 5,000-meter run (16:31.95).
Blake Washington (Fr., Knoxville, Knoxville HS), with a time of 2:00.08 in the 800-meter run, and Walter Herron (Jr., Houston, Texas, Westfield HS), with a throw of 154-3 in the javelin, matched Schuler’s placing.
Dexter Jordan (Fr., St. Louis, Mo., Forest Park CC) had two sixth places to his credit (52.11 seconds in the 400-meter dash and 21-7.25 in the long jump), while the 4×800-meter relay team came in sixth at 9:16.87.
George Calvert (Sr., Woodbridge, Va., Garfield HS) rounded out the scoring with a seventh-place finish in the hammer throw at 134-7.
Next: A few individuals will seek to gain access to nationals as they compete in a ‘last chance’ meet over the next two weeks (no meets announced yet).
Lady Statesmen Compete at League Championships
Des Moines–Katie Burnett (Sr., Mesa, Ariz., Arizona) and Rachel Butler (Sr., Orange County, Calif., Calvary Chapel Downey HS) each scored points in a pair of events as the William Penn women’s track and field team compete at the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships Friday and Saturday.
As a team, the Lady Statesmen were seventh out of seven teams with 13.5 points, while Grand View wrapped up the team race with 229.5 points.
Burnett garnered points in the javelin (third, 124-6) and in the high jump (T-sixth, 4-11), whereas Butler’s points both came in the throws. The senior was sixth in the shot put (36-9.75) and seventh in the discus (114-3).
Burnett just missed points in the long jump as well, placing 13th in the event at 14-7.75.
Michaela Beck (Fr., Onawa, West Monona HS) had solid showings in the 100 (12th, 12.96 seconds) and 200 (14th, 27.60 seconds), while Nicole Rogge (Fr., Glendale, Ariz., Apollo HS) was just outside the top ten in the 1,500-meter run (11th, 5:48.29).
Next: A few individuals may seek to gain access to nationals as they compete in a ‘last chance’ meet over the next two weeks (no meets announced yet).
