Grace College’s track and field team had one of its most successful days ever at the 2019 NCCAA National Championships on Friday, May 10.
The Lancers had eight All-American finishers on the day, including a pair of national champions.
Overall, both squads finished in the top 10. The men placed fourth as a team, marking the best finish in program history, and the women were 10th.
Walker Hobbs nailed a personal best in the shot put, winning the national title with a heave of 50-feet-8.25. His mark also qualified for NAIA Nationals and broke a school record.
Dylan Felger earned a national championship in his freshman season. He ended the 400-meter hurdles race in a time of 55.32 seconds to beat his closest competitor by less than two-tenths of a second.
Felger had shattered his own school record earlier in the prelims in a time of 53.67.
“We had several awesome performances this weekend, which culminated with three national champions and the first ever top-four finish for the men’s program. The women finished in the top 10, giving us an all-around great result,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “The throwers really stood out, with a pair of national titles and three NAIA national qualifiers, and Dylan Felger also impressed this weekend.”
Isaac Brown and William Shafer both placed third to grab All-American recognition. Brown was third in the high jump at 6-6.25, and Shafer was third in the hammer throw at 167-10 which met the NAIA B standard.
The meet ended with yet another All-American honor for Grace. The men’s 4×400 relay team of Paul Brawner, Felger, Kyle Smith and Martin Schiele were the national runners-up in a time of 3:21.58.
Korry Hamlin finished seventh in the 1,500 at 4:07.36, and Ben Rankin was seventh in the 5,000 (16:07.42). Brendan Hamilton placed eighth in the 800 with a time of 1:59.32 in his final collegiate race, and Caleb Brown was fifth in the shot put (46-11.75).
Nordia Campbell ran a 12.77 in the 100 dash to place fourth, and she was seventh in the 200 (26.74). Julia Malson was eighth in the 200 at 26.93.
Campbell and Malson joined Alexis Williams and Suzanne Sickafoose to grab fifth in the 4×100 at 50.99.
Jessica Zvers finished fifth in the 1,500 at 19:25.12, and Kaitlyn Mack was seventh in the 400 hurdles (1:09.17). Mack, Malson, Makenzie Adams and Sickafoose also were fifth in the 4×400.
“I’m proud of the way the women competed. We didn’t manage any top-three performances, but we battled to score in the throws, sprints, relays and distance events,” Raymond continued. “It was an honor to host the NCCAA Track and Field Championships for the past two years. As someone who competed in the meet many years ago and has been part of it for a good part of my coaching career, it’s been special to bring the meet to Grace and Winona Lake.”
To see a recap from Thursday’s competition at NCCAA Nationals, including a national championship in the javelin by Thomas Hickerson, click here.
To see complete tournament results, click here.
The Lancers will send a contingent to NAIA Nationals from May 23-25 in Gulf Shores, Ala. Brown (high jump), Felger (400 hurdles), Hickerson (javelin), Hobbs (shot put) and Shafer (hammer) will compete for the Lancers. – from gclancers.com