Three Lady Tiger All-Americans highlight indoor national track and field meet
The Cowley College men's and women's Track and Field Teams traveled to Gainesville, FL, to compete at the 2024 NJCAA Indoor National Track and Field Championships. The Lady Tigers had three All-Americans and placed 26th out of 32 schools, while the Tiger men failed to score any points as a team.
"This is the strongest this meet has been since I have been coaching," Cowley head coach Cameron Rieth said. "We did not have a bad meet, but to get on the podium, it takes very special performances. In some events, it would have taken us setting a new school record in order to just get onto the podium."
The Lady Tigers were led by Tavarie Campbell (1,000-meter run), Cierra Gray (shot put), and Mayce McDonald (weight throw), who were named All-Americans in their respective events.
The Cowley men were led by freshman Victor Morfin, who placed 11th in the high jump.
The Indian Hills men's track and field team claimed their first indoor national title. The Warriors earned 91.5 team points, outscoring second-place finisher New Mexico Junior College by 7.5 points. South Plains (TX), Barton (KS), and Iowa Western rounded out the top five.
Barton and Iowa Western claimed a share of the women's national title with 106 team points. For Barton, the title marked the 19th in program history and the Cougars' first since 2019. The Iowa Western Reivers topped the women's indoor track & field podium for the third time in the last four seasons. New Mexico Junior College placed third, while Cloud County (KS) and Western Texas rounded out the top five.
Results:
MEN
*60-meter dash – Davonte Pruitt, 6.95, 33rd.
*3,000-meter run – Miguel Cruz, 8:45.22, 24th.
*5,000-meter run – Mason Bickle, 15:04.48, 16th.
*Distance Medley Relay – Cowley "A" (Pedro Balestrini, Deshawn Douglas, Randy Rojas-Mendez, Austin Schaeffer), 10:17.45, 13th.
*High jump – Victor Morfin, 6-3 ¾, 11th.
*Pole vault – Riley Hunter, 14-4, ninth; Randall Coble, 14-4, 14th.
*Weight throw –Julien Washington, 53-4, 15th; Jacob Creswell, 49-1, 17th.
WOMEN
*400-meter dash – Isabella Kupka, 58.05, 18th.
*600-meter run – Kupka, 1:36.77, 11th.
*1,000-meter run – Tavarie Campbell, 2:59.93, sixth, All-American.
*5,000-meter run – Kayli Myers, 19:20.98, 19th.
*4x800-meter relay – Cowley "A" (Campbell, Myers, Savannah Fischer, Brittannia Willis), 9:43.94, ninth.
*Distance Medley Relay – Cowley "A" (Campbell, Mahalee Bilhimer, Fischer, Willis), 12:41.49, ninth.
*Pole vault – Dakota Dapper, 10-8 ½, 11th.
*Shot put – Cierra Gray, 44-0 ¼, sixth, All-American.
*Weight throw –Mayce McDonald, 50-5 ¼, eighth, All-American; Bree Rowe, 47-3 ½, 14th; Kennedy Bulger, 41-0, 20th.