ROME, Ga. – Donovan Graham’s All-American performance highlighted Grace College’s track and field team’s final two days at the NCCAA Outdoor Nationals. Graham finished second in the 800-meter run in 1:56.83 to earn NCCAA All-American status (top-three finish). His first lap was slow and tactical, but he made his burst late to place second nationally. Grace also set two new school records over its final two days at the national meet. Sabrina Whitaker cleared the high jump at a Grace-record mark of 5-feet-3.75, finishing sixth overall. Jo Boren shattered her own school record in the 400, placing fourth in a time of 58.22. “This trip has been a great experience as we were able to compete against some very good competition in a championship atmosphere,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “We set three new school records and posted some other season-best performances. With a large group of underclassmen, we look forward to the future of the Grace track and field program.” Lance Taylor, who qualified for NAIA Nationals earlier in the season, ran a 48.83 in the 400 to finish sixth nationally. Jonathan Rex closed out his Lancer career by competing in the 800 and 1500. Erin McPherson placed eighth in the hammer throw, reaching the mark in the final throw of her collegiate career. The women’s 4x800 relay team of Allison Zylstra, Jenna McClellan, Katelyn McCullough and Rachel Fehring also placed eighth. Other notable standouts included Jesse Feitz’s PR in the javelin, Drew Perrin’s ninth-place finish in the triple jump, Brandon Smith’s 10th-place finish in the 3000 steeplechase, Matthew Lee’s PR in the 800. The Lancers will have one last chance to qualify athletes for NAIA Nationals at the Dr. Keeler Invitational on Friday. TRACK & FIELD WINONA LAKE – Senior Jonathan Rex became Grace’s second NCCAA Wheeler Award winner, announced at the NCCAA Outdoor National Championships. The Wheeler Award recognizes the outstanding NCCAA Division I men’s track and field student-athlete who excels in competition, skill, academics and Christian service during his career. Rex follows Tim Sprankle (2002) as Grace’s winners of the NCCAA Wheeler Award. “Jonathan [Rex] has been a consistent and valuable performer in competition, but more importantly, has been a quiet leader who is liked and respected by everyone on our team,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “Some of his contributions are hard to quantify, but he has nonetheless made an impact during his time in our program and around campus." Rex has earned two NCCAA All-American honors during his career with the 4x800-meter relay teams in 2012 and 2013. He was also part of the 4x800 squad that set the school record in indoor track in 2013. He has been heavily involved in campus life at Grace as well, serving in various dorm leadership positions. BASEBALL MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Grace’s baseball team dropped an 11-6 game to Mt. Vernon Nazarene in the first round of the Crossroads League Tournament on Saturday. The Lancers (13-29) were scheduled to play St. Francis today at 10 a.m. in the double-elimination tournament with the game to be played at Huntington. With a win over the Cougars, Grace would advance to play at 4 p.m. on the same day. Playing at top-seeded Mt. Vernon on Saturday, Grace was ahead 3-2 entering the bottom of the fifth. Jacob Bloom’s RBI double plated Brook Vosler in the first inning, and CJ Swartz and Tyler Weber drove in a run apiece during the third. But the Cougars (40-8) claimed the lead for good with a two-run home run in the fifth. Mt. Vernon added two more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh. Grace trailed by four runs in the top of the eighth, but the visitors managed to cut that gap in half. The Lancers loaded the bases with no one out, and Swartz drove in Aaron Christenberry and Swartz with a single. After a pitching change, however, Grace recorded three straight outs to erase a longer rally. The Cougars then scored four unearned runs in the eighth to run away with the game. In Grace’s final at-bats in the nine-inning contest, Joey Hickerson’s single allowed Vosler to score. But Grace came up five runs short on the road. Vosler was 3 for 5 with two runs scored from the leadoff position, and Hickerson was 2 for 4. Christenberry and Bloom scored twice, and Swartz drove in three runs.
