Statesmen Open Indoor Campaign at SAU Frigid Bee Invite

Davenport--The William Penn track and field teams got their indoor seasons underway Saturday by competing in the St. Ambrose Frigid Bee Invitational.

Fresh off a conference title and a trip to nationals in cross country, D'Artagnon Beaver (Sr., Rockford, Ill., Human Services) paced a small group of athletes as he punched an early ticket to the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championship.  He did so by placing ninth in the 5,000-meter run with a provisional-qualifying time of 14:49.12.

The time is also a new school record for Beaver, adding to the ever-growing list for the senior.  He broke his own program mark of 15:09.02 from a year ago.

The Statesmen women had several top performances as well, including the 4x400-meter relay team claiming the crown with a time of 4:28.88.  Relay team members De'Avae Adderley (Jr., Nassau, Bahamas, Engineering Technology), Ellysse Johns, and Aaliyah Lopez also did well individually.

Adderley was third in the 60-meter dash in 8.05 seconds, while Johns took the bronze in the 200-meter dash in 28.06 seconds.  Lopez finished fifth in the 200 (28.67), while Ellasa Horton also claimed fifth in the 60 in 8.26 (8.14 prelims).

"We only brought a handful of athletes to our season opener, but wow did they command attention," Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said.  "D'Artagnon Beaver went out there and was the athlete we have grown accustomed to seeing on the track.  I cannot wait to see what he does when he takes a well-earned and deserved break and really opens up in his races."

"The women's presence was felt on the track," Vinokur added.  "If this is what a small crew can do, we are in for a fun and competitive season."

Next Up: William Penn will split up its squads with some individuals heading to Lincoln, Neb. next Friday to compete in the Nebraska Invitational, while others will go back to Davenport and battle in the St. Ambrose Finals Week Invitational on Friday and Saturday.