WPU Claims Half Dozen Wins at Season-Opening Meet
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Des Moines–The Statesmen track and field teams kicked the tires on the outdoor season Saturday as they competed at the Grand View Invitational.
William Penn won six different events at the Invitational, including four by the men and two more by the women.
Indoor All-American Mofiyinfoluwa Alade (So., Hoffman Estates, Ill.) guided the high jumpers, taking first at 6-3.5, while fellow national qualifier Chris Leiba (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Business Management) was also first, doing so in the 100-meter dash in 10.77 seconds.
Loys Parker (Fr., St. Louis, Mo.), in the triple jump at 40-0.5, and the 4×100-meter relay team, in 42.60 seconds, were champions as well Saturday.
Joel Brown (Fr., Columbus, Ga.) was the lone Statesmen to finish high in a pair of individual competitions. The freshman was second in the 200-meter dash in 22.85 seconds and third in the 100 at 11.07.
Tristen Elmore (Jr., Ovied, Fla., Physical Education) (second, 10.97) and Michael Hubbard (Sr., Gary, Ind., Exercise Science) (eighth, 11.56) placed in the top 10 in the 100 as well.
Javelin throwers Tyler Albert (Sr., Eldon, Iowa, Engineering Technology) and Kainalu Batongbacal (Fr., Goldbar, Wash., Applied Technology) finished second (176-3) and sixth (155-9), respectively, while Jace Lukefahr (Fr., Newton, Iowa) ended up ninth in the discus at 131-4.
Alexzandrea Woudenberg (So., Ottumwa, Iowa) was the fastest female on the day, winning the 100 in 12.92 seconds. Shelbie Williams (So., Hedrick, Iowa, Elementary Education) matched her by being the best shot putter, leading all individuals at 39-8.
Raven Williams (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev.) and Elayna VanArsdale (Jr., Bensalem, Pa., Secondary Education) each produced two top-three placings Saturday. Williams was second in the 200 (27.60) and third in the 400-meter dash in 1:04.11. VanArsdale was strong in the throwing events, placing third in both the discus (117-3) and the hammer (126-11).
Danisha Washington (So., Peoria, Ill.) also took home bronze, doing so in the 100 at 13.27. Imani Welch (Sr., St. Louis, Mo., Sports and Management Recreation), in 14.19 seconds, and Marie Garcia (Sr., Kaneohe, Hawaii, Communications), in 14.23 seconds, were right behind Washington in the 100, in fourth and fifth, respectively.
“I thought we had a good day for having only been outside for one week,” Head Coach Allen Friesen said. “Our athletes were excited to once again compete.”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Baldwin City, Kan. next Saturday to compete in the Baker Relays.
