[Track and Field] All-American Trio Highlights Falcons' Performance at NAIA National Meet
GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Friends University men's and women's track & field Falcons featured a trio of All-America finishes at the NAIA National Meet this past weekend in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Cadin Gustafson (SO/Derby, Kan.) was an All-American in the Decathlon with an eight-place finish, while Noah Myers (SO/Pratt, Kan.) also secured an eighth-place result in the Long Jump (7.35m). Kayla Allen (SO/Lewiston, Maine) came in seventh in the 5K RaceWalk to also bring home All-America honors.
Gustafson's Decathlon effort produced a school-record 6326 points in the event.
A pair of standout seniors wrapped up their decorated career at Friends, with Shelby Hundley (SR/Bern, Kan.) and Kara Simmons (SR/Lakin, Kan.) contributing to a 12th place finish in the 4 X 400 relay. Jaylen Knight (FR/Omaha, Neb.) and Lauren Doll (JR/Leon, Kan.) were also a part of the relay unit. Hundley also finished ninth in the 400 Hurdles (1:02.47), with Simmons coming in 11th (1:03.14) in the same event.
Taylor Brannen (JR/Garber, Okla.) qualified for the High Jump in her first season with the program and recorded a mark of 1.64m that placed her 14th overall out of 35 competitors.
In the Hammer Throw, Kortney Schutt (JR/Haysville, Kan.) finished 12th (49.72m), while Jessica DeWeese (JR/Pratt, Kan.) came in 18th with a throw of 12.58m in the Shot Put.
Elaina Henderson (SO/San Antonio, Texas) posted an 18th place result out of 40 in the Triple Jump with a leap of 11.29m.
The 4 X 800 relay saw Christa Titus (SR/Grinnell, Iowa) also put a cap on her brilliant career by teaming with Hundley, Simmons and Miranda Tenove (JR/Gardner, Kan.) to post a ninth-place finish (9:25.14).
The Falcon men had two qualifiers in the Hammer Throw, featuring David Loucks (SR/Halstead, Kan.) (50.89m) wrapping up his stellar career by finishing 21st and Brayden Wells (FR/Wichita, Kan. ) (47.12m) coming in 34th overall.
The men's 4 X 800 relay saw Isaac Sprague (SR/Concordia, Kan.) and Brett Martin (SR/Wichita, Kan.) conclude their solid Falcon tenures alongside Gabe Kuhn (SO/Andale, Kan.) and Avery Stuever (FR/Wichita, Kan.) to finish 16th (8:01.04) in the event.
To put a bow on the Falcons' 2019 campaign, the program produced 20 Individual KCAC Champs, 36 National Qualifiers, six school records, 10 All-Americans, a pair of KCAC Team Titles, two KCAC Team Runner-Ups, one KCAC Athlete of the Meet and two KCAC Coach of the year awards.