WPU Qualifies Two More in Last Chance Meet

Seward, Neb.--The Statesmen track and field teams produced one more big outing before nationals as it competed at the Concordia Twilight last Friday.

Although he did not win his event, Brandon Williams (Jr., Fountain, Colo., Civil Engineering) guided the navy and gold as he broke the school record by placing eighth in the 800-meter run with an automatic-standard time of 1:51.88.  The previous record of 1:52.46 was held by Alex Edwards since 2014.

Tahj Ferguson (Sr., Hartford, Conn., Psychology) also added his name to the list of William Penn national qualifiers as he took third in the long jump with a provisional-standard mark of 23-9.

Anthony Weaver (Fr., Demopolis, Ala., Mechanical Engineering) improved from the 'B' standard to the 'A' mark with a runner-up triple jump distance of 47-11.

D'Artagnon Beaver (Jr., Rockford, Ill., Human Services), who is already a qualifier in the event, won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:29.38, while Abigaille Batu-Tiako (Sr., Plattsburgh, N.Y., Business Management) also claimed gold in the women's long jump at 18-9.75 (she has also qualified in the long jump).

Xzavion West (So., Guthrie, Ky., Undecided) finished in third place in the hammer throw at 171-4, while Jeremiah Conteh (Sr., Shorewood, Wis., English) was 10th in the competition at 157-6.

Steven Murray (Sr., Missouri Valley, Iowa, Sociology) placed sixth in the shot put at 46-4, and Jonah Heckenberg (Sr., Stockport, Iowa, Business Management) was 14th in the 800 in 1:54.10.

"It was a very good day!" Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said.  "Brandon Williams, Tahj Ferguson, Anthony Weaver all went out and hit those 'A' standards in style.  These athletes have worked incredibly hard all season and earned every bit of those standards."

"We are excited to take 12 athletes to nationals," Vinokur added.  "They are standing on business and we are loving every of it."