Cowley track teams get off to good start

Competing against several NCAA Division I schools Friday at the University of Arkansas Invite, the Cowley College indoor track and field teams got some strong performances from its athletes.

“I was very pleased with the kids we went down there with,” Cowley head coach Mark Phillips said. “The freshmen got an eye opening experience and got to see what big time track is like.”

Cowley’s athletes were competing against schools such as the University of Arkansas, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Kansas University, and Kansas State University.

Freshman John Kenney from Derby broke the school record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.03.

“I knew he was talented, but this was a little bit of a surprise especially for the first meet,” Phillips said.

The Tiger men’s 4x400-meter relay team also set a school-record, as they placed 11th with a time of 3:22.38. The relay team consisted of Justin Viewins, Larry Hill, Deion Ruble and Dakota Price.

“That group of guys has been working really hard,” Phillips said.

The Tiger men and women’s track teams combined for eight national qualifying performances.

“That core group of kids had a really good meet,” Phillips said.

Kelsey Poljansek, the outdoor national champion in the discus and shot put, qualified for nationals in the shot put (46-10 ¼) and weight throw (44-0 ¼).

“Kelsey picked up right where she left off,” Phillips said.

Jeniffer Cherono also did well as she placed third in the 3,000-meter run with a national qualifying time of 10:34.37.

“Jeniffer ran great,” Phillips said.

Cowley’s indoor track and field teams will be back in action Saturday when they compete at Johnson County.

Cowley results:
WOMEN
•60-meter dash — Xandria Cash, 8.12, 22nd.
•Mile run — Jessica McLeod, 5:45.35, 11th.
•3,000-meter run — Jeniffer Cherono, 10:34.37, third, national qualifier; Ashley Cronin, 11:08.50, 10th, national qualifier.
•Long jump — Sasha Oliver, 15-2 ¾, 18th.
•Shot put — Kelsey Poljansek, 46-10 ¼, sixth, national qualifier.
•Weight throw — Poljansek, 44-0 ½, 10th.

MEN
•60-meter dash — John Kenney, 7.03, 21st, school-record; Deion Ruble, 7.45, 40th.
•200-meter dash — Kenney, 22.74, eighth; Ruble, 23.93, 18th; Mark Chaney, 24.53, 20th.
•400-meter dash — Justin Viewins, 50.53, 22nd; Jerell McCane, 54.01, 36th; Sean Brown, 54.66, 37th.
•Mile run — Gilbert Manzanares, 4:31.49, 13th.
•800-meter run — Dakota Price, 1:59.12, 16th, national qualifier; Larry Hill, 1:59.16, 17th, national qualifier; Harrison Philp, 2:03.63, 27th.
•3,000-meter run — Jonathan Cherono, 8:31.84 10th, national qualifier; Brett Koehn, 9:03.25, 19th; Justin Cacaro, 9:10.68, 20th; Mauricio Morales, 9:16.06, 21st.
•4x400-meter relay — Cowley ‘A’, Viewins, Hill, Ruble, Price, 3:22.38, 11th.
•Pole vault — Willy Lucero, 13-9 ¼, 22nd.
•Weight throw — Chip Broaddus, 40-4 ¼, fifth; Mitch Hewitt, 29-8, sixth.