Elsah, Ill./Topeka, Kan. - The Central Methodist Track and Field programs split squads this weekend at the Principia Relays in Elsah, Illinois and the Washburn Open in Topeka, Kansas.
In Illinois, sophomore Maria Sahagun led CMU on the track, placing second in the 60 meters (7.75) before winning the 300 meters in 41.16. Senior Zakiya Porter added a runner-up finish in the 300 meters (41.77).
Freshman Akeelah Knox captured the 60-meter hurdles title in 8.60, an NAIA 'B' qualifying standard and the No. 2 time in the NAIA this season.
CMU swept the hurdles podium with Zaria Jones (8.92) finishing second and Tafaol Mohamed (8.94) third. Mohamed's preliminary time of 8.80 seconds secured her ticket to indoor nationals.
In the 500 meters, CMU went 1–2 as junior Annemarie Koerner won the event in 1:21.20, followed by senior Joana Vakasobuduru in 1:22.02. Senior Ali Gutierrez added a second-place finish in the mile, clocking a time of 5:29.83.
The 4x400 relay team of Zoey Hannam, Macye Maness, Lauren Kennon, and Sheridan Utley placed second with a time of 4:31.00, while sophomore Anaya Little finished second in the 3,000-meter race walk (19:05.55).
In the field events, sophomore Natalie Calcaterra won the high jump, clearing 1.57 meters, and senior Emma Paninka placed third in the triple jump at 10.79 meters.
Sophomore Londyn Cage closed the meet with a pentathlon win, scoring 2,717 points.
On the men's side, freshman Ronald Cottle captured the 500-meter title with a time of 1:07.78, while CMU added a relay win in the 4x800, as Oliver Cabana, Dimitrios Gkantatsios, Randy Rojas-Mendez, and Tristan Hickman combined for a 7:57.83 victory. The same group placed third in the distance medley relay (10:28.17).
Senior Chase Vickrey finished second in the 60-meter hurdles, running 8.64 in the finals after posting an 8.49 in prelims. In the sprints, sophomore Tristan Boyce placed fourth in the 60 meters (7.04).
CMU's 4x400 relay of Brady Trennepohl, Ronald Cottle, Aidan Jacobs, and Oliver Cabana added a third-place finish in 3:28.59.
In the field events, sophomore Wyatt Smith led the throws with a toss of 12.92m in the shot put and a 13.45m mark in the weight throw.
Junior Waisale Inoke closed the meet with a heptathlon victory, scoring 4,395 points.
Over in Topeka, junior Allena Rowland delivered the top result of the meet for CMU, finishing fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 55.88, a mark that met the NAIA 'A' standard and broke her own school record.
On the men's side, CMU earned an NAIA 'B; qualifying mark in the 4x400 relay, as Isaac Lawson, Corlando Chambers, Logan Bass, and Tyrone Summerall ran 3:17.16.
Central will next compete in the Bearcat Invite, hosted by Northwest Missouri State University beginning Friday, Feb. 6 at 12:00 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.
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