WPU Posts Strong Outings in Final Tune-Ups for Conference Meet
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Des Moines/Grinnell–The Statesmen track and field teams were in action twice in the last few days as they put in some final preparations before the conference meet next week.
A handful of throwers competed in the Grand View Field Invitational Thursday and then a much larger group went just north to battle in the Grinnell Invitational Saturday.
On Thursday, Derek Robinson (Sr., Jenks, Okla., Communications) topped the men by placing third in both the shot put (46-5.25) and weight throw (55-3). Shelbie Williams (So., Hedrick, Iowa, Elementary Education) guided the women with a runner-up effort in the shot put at 41-6, while Elayna VanArsdale (So., Bensalem, Pa., Secondary Education) took the bronze in the weight throw at 46-11.5.
On Saturday, the men were eighth out of 12 teams with 39 points, while Indian Hills CC claimed the title with 128 points. The Statesmen women were ninth (also out of 12 teams) with 24 points; Grand View headed the field with 117 points.
Mofiyinfoluwa Alade (Fr., Hoffman Estates, Ill.) was the navy and gold’s best competitor, winning the high jump at 6-8.
Robinson once again was a two-time high finisher, placing fifth in the shot put at 45-5 and ending up sixth in the weight throw at 54-2.75. Dajon Shaw (Highland Park, Mich., Exercise Science) matched him with two top-10 performances of his own. He tallied a sixth-place showing in the 60-meter dash in 7.28 seconds and was eighth in the long jump at 20-2.25.
Brenden Foster (So., Rock Hill, S.C.) narrowly missed gold by taking second in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.65 seconds. Earl George (Sr., Gaithersburg, Md., Biology) also placed in the event, finishing sixth in 9.62.
Sage Ehresman (So., Sully, Iowa, Exercise Science) was seventh in the shot put (42-11) and Jason Castano (So., Miami, Fla., Mechanical Engineering) was eighth in the weight throw (43-11.75).
Williams headlined the women’s performances with two top-10 finishes. The sophomore was second in the shot put (41-3) and 10th in the weight throw (41-6.5).
Guadalupe Gonzalez (Sr., Houston, Texas, Exercise Science) was the third individual to cross the line in the 5,000-meter run (20:18.01), while Van Arsdale claimed fifth place in the weight throw at 47-5.
Asia Laudermilch (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Sports Management) took seventh in the long jump (15-5), while Alexzandrea Woudenberg (Fr., Ottumwa, Iowa) tallied a team point by placing eighth in the 60 (8.46). Becky Cleppe (So., St. Petersburg, Fla., Physical Education) fell just outside the scoring points group in the weight throw as she was ninth at 42-10.75.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Crete, Neb. next Friday and Saturday to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships.
