TABOR COLLEGE: Lady 'Jays finish second KCAC track meet
Tabor men's track team takes third
at league meet
The hard work both Bluejay track teams have put out this season paid off Friday and Saturday at the KCAC meet, held at Friends University in Wichita.
Fueled by a pair of first- place finishes, the Lady Bluejays came in 71 points in back of league champion Southwestern.
The Moundbuilders were also the victors in the men's division, putting an astounding 165-point margin between themselves and runner-up Friends.
The Bluejay men finished third, 193 points behind the Moundbuilders.
"For both the men's and women's teams to do as well as we did was truly a team effort," Bluejay women's co-coach of the year Dave Kroeker said. "We had a lot of people contribute to our high conference finishes for both teams.
"I am very proud of the contribution by each of the athletes who competed."
For the third consecutive year, Landon Goertzen retained his crown in the men's 800 meters, finishing with a season and personal best time of 1:55.
The women's team, too, had a repeat champion with Mandi Janzen leaping a career high 5-4 in the high jump for one of two top finishes for the women.
The Lady Bluejays' other top finish came from the 4x800 meter relay team of Angela Jost, Becky Jons, Karen Patton, and Shannon Kroeker, who bettered their own school record in that event with a 9:57 finish.
"Special recognition needs to go to Karen Patton and Angela Jost," said coach Kroeker. "They really extended themselves physically, mentally and emotionally over the two-day championship event.
"Both of them ran 800 meters in the 4x800 meter relay, the 5000 meter, the 1500 meter, the 800 meter and on the 4x400 meter relay. That is a lot of competitive running in two days and they deserve a lot of credit for their successful efforts."
Placing anywhere from first to third met the credentials to be named to the all-conference teams, and the Bluejays had 14 competitors selected .
For honorable mention recognition, a competitor had to place between fourth and sixth.
Brian Lightner ran a second-place school record time of 55.31 in the 400 meter hurdles and a third-place time of 15.54 in the 110 meter high hurdles.
Kevin Nickel finished runner up in the 3000 meter steeplechase in a time of 9:41, and Brent Brockmueller heaved a runner-up distance of 141-6 in the hammer throw.
Lightner and Goertzen were on the same 4x400 meter relay team as Pete Richert and Caleb Stanton that took third in 3:21.
Rounding out the men's first team all-conference performers, Goertzen and Richert joined Jeremiah Randall and Ryan Sperling to take third in 8:01 of the 4x800 meter relay.
Jost had a progressive day, coming in second in both the 800 and 1500 meters with respective times of 2:28 and 5:04, while finishing third in the 1500 in 20:32.
Patton set a school record time of 19:54 for second in the 5000 meters and third in the 800 at 2:33.
Rachel Evans ran a third- place time of 15.24 in the 100 meter hurdles, and Tamara McCarren heaved the shot put a runner up distance of 40-3.
Patton, Shannon Kroeker, and Jost teamed up with Amber McKillip to turn in a second-place time of 4:18 in the 4x400 meter relay.
Evans and McCarren have qualified for the May 22-24 NAIA National Meet held in Olathe.
Evans will compete in the 100 meter hurdles, and McCarren will compete in the discus.
Other Bluejay competitors get a final chance to qualify for the national meet this Saturday in Emporia.
"It was a great ending to a record-breaking season," coach Kroeker said. "Six new school records were set at the KCAC meet alone, and many personal bests were accomplished last weekend as well.
"My special thanks go out to our seniors, Karen Patton, Kevin Nickel, Rachel Evans, Brent Brockmueller, and Adam Penner.
"They have given a lot to our track and field program over the time they have been at Tabor and deserve recognition for what have accomplished individually and for the team."
men's results
400m — 6. Caleb Stanton, 50.47. 800m — 1. Landon Goertzen, 1:55.78; 25. Tim Steven, 2:19.50. 1500m — 11. Pete Richert, 4:19.22; 16. Ryan Sperling, 4:27.02. 10000m — 9. Matt Lynbam, 38:14.92. 110m hurdles — 3. Brian Lightner, 15.54; 4. Matt Insley, 15.65. 400m hurdles — 2. Brian Lightner, 55.31. Steeplechase — 2. Kevin Nickel, 9:41.92. 4x100 relay — 4. Tabor, 42.99. 4x400 relay — 3. Tabor, 3:21.44. 4x800 relay — 3. Tabor, 8:00.0. High jump — 5. Adam Penner, 6'4". Pole vault — 5. Will Higerd, 10'6". Long jump — 6. Brian Lightner, 21'1.5". Shot put — 5. Brent Brockmueller, 44'2"; 10. Todd Harper, 39'6". Discus — 5. Jeremiah Randall, 132'; 16. Brockmueller, 110'6"; 19. Harper, 96'7". Hammer — 2. Brockmueller, 141'6". Javelin — 5. Lee Waldron, 153'0"; 11. Willie Lopez, 135;2".
women's results
100m — 4. Rachel Evans, 13.34; 5. Christine Van Doren, 13>65. 400m — 6. Amber McKillip, 1:04.65. 800m — 2. Angela Jost, 2:28.62; 3. Karen Patton, 2:33.73; 4. Shannon Kroeker, 2:33.89; 9. Esther Richert, 2:44.80. 1500m — 2. Jost, 5:04.49; 4. Patton, 5:13.82. 5000m — 2. Patton, 19:54.68; 3. Jost, 20:32.13; 6. Richert, 21:48.75. 100m hurdles — 7. Lahna Daugherty, 17.89. 400m hurdles — 4. Daugherty, 11:14; Steeplechase — 6. Erin Voth, 17:23.60. 4x100 — 4. Tabor, 52.20. 4x400 — 2. Tabor, 4:18. 4x800 — 1. Tabor, 9:57.64. High jump — 1. Mandi Janzen, 5'4"; S. Kroeker, 4'10"; 7. Carissa Litton, 4'6". Pole vault — 4. Rachel Kostner, 8'. Long jump — 5. Van Doren, 15'5.57". Triple jump — 5. Van Doren, 32'1.25". Shot put — 2. Tamara McCarren, 40'3"; 10. Trista Hanley, 33'0.5". Discus — McCarren, 133'6"; 7. Angela Kroeker, 115'1"; 9. Hanley, 103.4". Hammer — 5. McCarren, 115'10"; 8. Jen Hope, 103'9". Javelin — 7. McCarren, 105'11"; 10. Kostner, 86'8".
