Lancers post 11 NAIA qualifiers at league championships
February 18, 2020 at 12:32 a.m.
Lancers post 11 NAIA qualifiers at league championships
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lancers enjoyed one of the best indoor weekends in program history with 11 NAIA qualifying performances, including 10 alone on Saturday.
Grace amassed 15 All-League honorees and set five school records in a weekend to remember.
“This team stepped up to the challenge of competing in one of the best conferences in the NAIA. They met and even exceeded many of our expectations for the meet,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “Many individuals contributed to our team’s success, and we are excited for what lies ahead the rest of the season.”
One year ago, Grace’s men’s team scored 49 points in the league championship, while the women scored 15 points.
This year, the men’s squad placed fourth with 93 points, and the women finished sixth with 60 points.
Saturday produced a record-breaking group of performances for the Lancers. Grace had three league champion events.
John Green won the 200-meter race with a time of 22.25 seconds, a result that broke the school record and hit the NAIA “A” standard. He was also third in the 60 dash at 7.00.
Lyne Camara won the women’s 200 at 25.46 seconds, which also hit the NAIA “A” standard and set a new school record. Camara finished third in the 60 dash at 7.88 seconds.
Suzanne Sickafoose claimed the 400 title, hitting the NAIA “B” standard at 59.26.
Dylan Felger was the league runner-up in the 400 (49.23), which was a NAIA “A” mark, and he also was third in the 200 (22.44).
Kyle Smith had a NAIA “B” standard in the 800 when he crossed the finish line in 1:56.22, good for second place in the league. His brother Luke Smith was eighth in the 800.
Walker Hobbs was second in the shot put with a heave of 48-feet-6.75, and William Shafer was third at 48-4.5.
Isaac Beatty placed third in the 1,000 with an NAIA “B” time of 2:32.94, and Isaac Brown was third in the high jump at 6-7.
The men’s distance relay earned All-League honors by placing third. Logan Rufenacht, Issiac Mitchell, Zach Johnson and Dimitri Margaritidis crossed the finish line in 10:34.25.
The men’s 4x800-meter relay team of Isaac Beatty, Jonathan Balda, Brady Willard and Luke Smith placed fourth with an NAIA “A” qualifying time of 7:55.66.
Dimitri Margaritidis finished fifth in the mile (4:26.05), and Connor Kitson was seventh in the heptathlon (3,493 points).
Nordia Campbell finished third in the 200 with an NAIA “B” time of 25.64, and Heather Plastow also hit the NAIA “B” mark in the 3,000 with a school-record time of 10:32.90.
Rylin Bagarus finished sixth in the 60 hurdles at 9.51, and Olivia Lugibihl was seventh in the pentathlon (2,250 points).
The women’s 4x400 hit the NAIA “A” qualifying standard and was the league runner-up. Sickafoose, Campbell, Julia Malson and Camara finished in 3:58.28.
Sickafoose also broke her own school record in the 600, placing fifth in a time of 1:39.80.
The men’s 4x400 squad of Green, Felger, Paul Brawner and Kyle Smith finished fifth in 3:28.30.
Next up, Grace will continue postseason competition with the 2020 NCCAA National Championships on Friday and Saturday at Cedarville University.
The Lancers enjoyed one of the best indoor weekends in program history with 11 NAIA qualifying performances, including 10 alone on Saturday.
Grace amassed 15 All-League honorees and set five school records in a weekend to remember.
“This team stepped up to the challenge of competing in one of the best conferences in the NAIA. They met and even exceeded many of our expectations for the meet,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “Many individuals contributed to our team’s success, and we are excited for what lies ahead the rest of the season.”
One year ago, Grace’s men’s team scored 49 points in the league championship, while the women scored 15 points.
This year, the men’s squad placed fourth with 93 points, and the women finished sixth with 60 points.
Saturday produced a record-breaking group of performances for the Lancers. Grace had three league champion events.
John Green won the 200-meter race with a time of 22.25 seconds, a result that broke the school record and hit the NAIA “A” standard. He was also third in the 60 dash at 7.00.
Lyne Camara won the women’s 200 at 25.46 seconds, which also hit the NAIA “A” standard and set a new school record. Camara finished third in the 60 dash at 7.88 seconds.
Suzanne Sickafoose claimed the 400 title, hitting the NAIA “B” standard at 59.26.
Dylan Felger was the league runner-up in the 400 (49.23), which was a NAIA “A” mark, and he also was third in the 200 (22.44).
Kyle Smith had a NAIA “B” standard in the 800 when he crossed the finish line in 1:56.22, good for second place in the league. His brother Luke Smith was eighth in the 800.
Walker Hobbs was second in the shot put with a heave of 48-feet-6.75, and William Shafer was third at 48-4.5.
Isaac Beatty placed third in the 1,000 with an NAIA “B” time of 2:32.94, and Isaac Brown was third in the high jump at 6-7.
The men’s distance relay earned All-League honors by placing third. Logan Rufenacht, Issiac Mitchell, Zach Johnson and Dimitri Margaritidis crossed the finish line in 10:34.25.
The men’s 4x800-meter relay team of Isaac Beatty, Jonathan Balda, Brady Willard and Luke Smith placed fourth with an NAIA “A” qualifying time of 7:55.66.
Dimitri Margaritidis finished fifth in the mile (4:26.05), and Connor Kitson was seventh in the heptathlon (3,493 points).
Nordia Campbell finished third in the 200 with an NAIA “B” time of 25.64, and Heather Plastow also hit the NAIA “B” mark in the 3,000 with a school-record time of 10:32.90.
Rylin Bagarus finished sixth in the 60 hurdles at 9.51, and Olivia Lugibihl was seventh in the pentathlon (2,250 points).
The women’s 4x400 hit the NAIA “A” qualifying standard and was the league runner-up. Sickafoose, Campbell, Julia Malson and Camara finished in 3:58.28.
Sickafoose also broke her own school record in the 600, placing fifth in a time of 1:39.80.
The men’s 4x400 squad of Green, Felger, Paul Brawner and Kyle Smith finished fifth in 3:28.30.
Next up, Grace will continue postseason competition with the 2020 NCCAA National Championships on Friday and Saturday at Cedarville University.
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