Kenney, Gray break school records at Pittsburg State Invite

Two school records were broken and three national qualifying marks were hit as the Cowley College indoor track and field teams took a few field event athletes and sprinters to the Pittsburg State Invite on Saturday, Running on a very small, 160-meter track, the Tiger athletes competed well against NCAA Division II, NAIA and junior college competition.

Freshmen Rusty Gray and John Kenney established school records at the meet. Gray placed seventh in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.72.

“Rusty’s performance was a pleasant surprise because it was the first time he has run the high hurdles for us,” Cowley head coach Mark Phillips said.

Kenney’s school record happened in the 55-meter dash as he placed eighth with a time of 6.64.

“John keeps getting better,” Phillips said. “I look for him to hit the qualifying mark for nationals here really quick.”

Kelsey Poljansek also performed well as she won the shot put (47-0 ¾) and finished second in the weight throw (47-11). Other Lady Tigers that fared well were Xandria Cash, who placed fourth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:02.24, and Sasha Oliver, who finished fourth in the triple jump (35-1).

Teams competing at the meet were, Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Mid-American Nazarene, Southwestern College, Oklahoma Christian College, Oklahoma Wesleyan, Missouri Southern, Bacone College, Fort Scott, Hutchinson, and Neosho County.

The Tiger track and field squads will now prepare for the Adidas Classic, which will be held Friday and Saturday in Lincoln, Neb. Friday’s competition will begin at 5 p.m., and Saturday’s events will start at 11 a.m.

Cowley results:
WOMEN
•400-meter dash — Xandria Cash, 1:02.24, fourth.
•Long jump — Sasha Oliver, 15-5, 10th.
•Triple jump — Oliver, 35-1, fourth, national qualifier.
•Shot put — Kelsey Poljansek, 47-0 ¾, first, national qualifier.
•Weight throw — Poljansek, 47-11, second, national qualifier.

MEN
•55-meter dash — John Kenney, 6.64, eighth, school-record.
•400-meter dash — Ethan Whitmore, 53.90, 10th; Sean Brown, 55.08, 16th; Mark Chaney, 55.31, 18th.
•600-yard run — Jerell McCane, 1:19.35, third; Rusty Gray, 1:24.36, 11th.
•800-meter run — Justin Viewins, 2:14.42, ninth.
•55-meter hurdles — Gray, 8.72, seventh, school-record; Mark Butler, 9.41, 10th.
•4x400-meter relay — Cowley A (Justin Viewins, Butler, McCane, Brown), 3:35.98, third; Cowley B (Whitmore, Chaney, Kenney, Gray), 3:47.89, eighth.
•High jump — Colziah Jones, 6-2 ¾, sixth; Brown, 6-0 ¾, eighth; Adam Wolkins, 6-0 ¾, eighth.
•Pole vault — Jordan Pote, 13-5 ¾, third; Willy Lucero, 12-11 ¾, sixth; Jones, 12-11 ¾, eighth; Butler, 12-11 ¾, ninth.
•Long jump — Whitmore, 17-11 ½, 19th.
•Weight throw — Mitch Hewitt, 29-0 ½, 18th.