Track and field teams repeat as outdoor conference champions

For the first time since 2010 and 2011, the No. 9-ranked Cowley College men's and women's outdoor track and field teams repeated as Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division champions. The Tiger track and field teams accomplished the feat while competing at the Region VI/Jayhawk Conference Championships held Thursday through Saturday in Coffeyville, KS.

"It seems like every year it gets harder and harder," Cowley head coach Cameron Rieth said. "A lot of hard work went into being able to repeat as conference champions for both men and women. I cannot thank our athletes and my assistant coaches (Parker Ray and Glenwood Edwards) enough."

The Lady Tigers placed fourth in the region, while the Tiger men finished fifth. The Barton County men and women finished as region champs.

In the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division, the Cowley men finished 9.5 points better than second-place Coffeyville, while the Lady Tigers were 49.5 points better than runner-up Fort Scott.

"It was a total team effort; every point and effort mattered," Rieth said. "Especially in conditions that were all over the place. From monsoon-like conditions in the multi's, to hot and really windy on Friday and Saturday that our runners had to suffer through. I am glad we held it together for the most part."

The Tiger men were led by Treavor Green, the conference and region champion in the hammer throw. Other Cowley men that finished as conference champions were Muneer Suied (3,000-meter steeplechase), Riley Hunter (pole vault), Lance Blubaugh (javelin), and Felipe Mentz in the multis.

The Cowley men also had six athletes finish as conference runner-ups in their events.

The Lady Tigers were led by sophomore Kayla McClellan, the conference and region champion in the hammer throw and the conference champion in the shot put. Other Cowley women that finished as conference champions were Andrea Garcia-Gonzalez (1,500-meter run), Jamilet Bautista-Infante (javelin), Lashae Smith (multis), and the 4x800-meter relay team of Delicia Boothe, Andrea Garcia-Gonzalez, Layla Ingalls, and Abigail Pinnock.

The Cowley women had seven athletes finish as conference runner-ups in their events.

The Tiger track and field athletes will next compete at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Championships May 18-20 in Hobbs, NM.

"Our goal is to keep climbing the region and national rankings," Rieth said.