Men's Track and Field Adds Four New NAIA Qualifying Marks

Men's Track and Field competed at the Concordia Classic on Saturday in Seward. The Tigers posted five automatic qualifying marks, including four new national qualifying marks in the meet.

On the track, JaDae Moore took third in the 60m dash with a time of 6.96. Connor Bradley placed fifth with a time of 22.96 in the 200m.

Joaquin Gutierrez won the 400m with a time of 49.21 (48.44 track conversion time), to qualify for the NAIA national meet. Zach Turner took second with a time of 49.26 (48.49 track conversion time), a national qualifying time for nationals.

In the 600m, Eli Marez placed fifth with a time of 1:25.14. Duncan Blankenship took fifth in the 800m with a time of 2:01.10. 

Emmanuel Yego finished in second in the 1000m run with a time of 2:30.86 (2:28.81 track conversion time), hitting the NAIA automatic qualifying mark. In the 3000m, Nelson Ruto placed fifth with a time of 8:49.51. Thomas Oliver won the 5000m with a time of 15:22.64.

Turner won the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.88, breaking his school record. His time is the second fastest in the NAIA. The men's 4x400m relay team of Gutierrez, Marez, Yego, and Chris Vincent won with a time of 3:23.53.

In the field events, Mike Pulliam took second place in the pole vault. He cleared 4.85m (15-11.00) to hit the NAIA automatic qualifying mark and move into a tie for fourth nationally. Peyton Herrick took third with a clearance of 1.92m (6-03.50).

Cameron Leeling placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 6.52m (21-04.75). Vince Lauenroth won the triple jump with a mark of 13.88m (45-06.50).

In the shot put, Tad Dimmitt placed ninth with a throw of 14.12m (46-04.00). Carson Lavaley led the way for Doane in the weight throw with a toss of 14.63m (48-00.00) to place ninth.

Next up for the Tigers will be the Fred Beile Classic on Saturday, February 3, in Crete.