[Track and Field] Outdoor Track & Field Falcons continue preparation for KCAC meet
Pittsburg, Kan. & Cedar Rapids, Iowa – The Friends University Falcons sent a large contingent to compete at the Pittsburg State Tune-Up this past weekend in Pittsburg, Kan., while a smaller group participated in the Mustang Invitational in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Kortney Schutt (SR/Wichita, Kan.) was the big winner at the Pittsburg State event, coming out on top in both the Women's Discus Throw (51.39m) and the Hammer Throw (49.49m) along with a runner-up showing in the Shot Put (13.81m). Her Discus and Shot Put marks are both automatic qualifiers, with her Discus throw ranking as tops in the NAIA by almost two meters. Schutt is now firmly within the top five in the nation in all three events this season.
Caroline Giles (JR/Minneapolis, Kan.) also took the top prize in the Women's 5000 meter run with a time of 18:42.19.
Halle Nagel (FR/Ulysses, Kan.) recorded a podium finish in the Women's 100-meter dash (12.34), while the dynamic duo of Aubrey Donley (second, 4:47.14) and Aileen Gurrola (SR/Garden City, Kan.) (third, 4:56.45) finished 2-3 in the 1500 meter run.
Along with Schutt's win in the Women's Hammer Throw, the Falcons also received a third-place finish from Makenzie Burns (SR/Goddard, Kan.) (47.50m) and Anya Walton (SO/Midland, Texas) notched an NAIA B standard mark with a third-place finish showing in the Triple Jump (11.70m).
For the men at the Pittsburg State Tune-up, Marcquiece Cade (FR/Concordia, Kan. ) finished in the top five of the 110-meter hurdles with an automatic qualifying time of 14.44.
The Falcons also received three NAIA B standard marks from Trayvonne Meadows (SO/Spring, Texas), Brayden Wells (SR/Wichita, Kan. ) and Isaac Campbell (SR/Sedan, Kan.). Meadows (54.44) was the runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles, Wells (55.77m) came in third in the Hammer Throw and Campbell (47.69m) wound up fourth in the Discus Throw.
At the Mustang Invitational, the Falcons went 1-2-3 in the Men's 5000 Race Walk with three NAIA B standard times. Pablo Sanz-Rillo (FR/Madrid, Spain) (24:07.17) finished in the top spot (24:07.17), followed by Gage Carr (SO/Bel Aire, Kan. ) (25:00.36) in second and Jadon Davis (JR/Baltimore, Md.) (25:08.28) in third.
"Overall, we had a decent weekend with a more selective group going to Pitt State," said Friends Track & Field head coach Henry Brun.
"I was impressed with our sprints group and how they have progressed during this outdoor season. We saw some good season improvements in the throws as well. We have a nice level of consistency across the board going into our final weekend before the conference championship meet. There are still a couple items we would like to take care of at Southwestern this weekend, but I am pleased with where we are heading into the final weeks of the season."
The Falcons will next be at the Southwestern Relays this weekend (Apr. 30) in Winfield, Kan., their final competition before the following week's KCAC championship meet.
Click below for full results from this past weekend's events: