Lincoln’s women’s team barely captured the National team title over host school, Angelo State, with a score of 85 to 82.  UC San Diego was third with a score of 56. St. Augustine’s men took the title with 94 points. Abilene Christian was second with 86 points and Adams State was third with 75.

The first day saw a new DII record in the 100 meters in the prelims, during which St. Augustine’s Barbara Pierre ran a time of 11.18.  Queens' Tanya Zeferjahn claimed her first National title winning the 10,000 in a time of 35:38.46. She was followed by Kimi Shank from Missouri Southern (35:42.93) and Adams State's Heather Wood was third (35:55.62). In the men's 10,000, Daniel Kirwa from Harding claimed the National title in a time of 29:46.84. Adams State's Brian Medigovich was second (29:49.31) and Abilene Christian's Amos Sang third (29:54.20).

Minnesota-Mankato’s Kaitlin Rains finished her college career with a record smashing performance in the pole vault with a vault of 13'7, a height that broke the meet record of 13’1.75 by California State-Stanislaus' Chaunte Mitchell in 2005.

The third day brought showers that delayed the field events by three hours.  Even with the cool rain, the men's discus was a heated competition, which came down to the final throw.  Aleksas Abromavicius of Grand Valley State took the lead with a throw of 178'10", only to be answered by a winning throw of 182'11" by Abilene Christian's Nick Jones.   Abromavicius ultimately placed second, followed by Central Missouri's Drew Frizzell (168'), who  was Thursday’s hammer Champion.

The meet records were almost broken by both men and women in the 4x100 meters. In the women’s race, Lincoln's 4x100 team of Nandelle Cameron, Samoy Hackett, Sudian Davis and Janika Martell ran a  44:32, just 15 hundredths of second shy of the meet record. Similarly, Lincoln’s men’s team of Kawayne Fisher, Gavin Terrelong, Dwain Bryden and Kimour Bruce won the crown with a time of 39.29, just nine hundredths shy of the meet record.

Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler won the 1500m in a time of 4:26.75 over Wisconsin Parkside’s Jessica Monsoon (4:27.38). In the men’s race, Queen’s Michael Crouch (3:49.83) upset Adam’s State’s Aaron Braun (3:49.93).

The women’s 100 meter sprint that included three tremendous talents. (e.g. tremendous talents)?]  ended with Lincoln’s Samoy Hackett (11.18) winning over St. Augustine’s Barbara Pierre(11.22) and Lincoln’s Janika Martell (11.36).   In the men's 100, Lincoln's Kawayne Fisher won the title in a time of 10.15.

Northwest Nazarene's Ashley Puga picked up the National title in a time of 2:07.24 followed by Liz Palkie of Minnesota-Duluth in a time of 2:08.02. Metro State's Antony Luna claimed his second 800 meter in a time of 1:49.26. Andrew Graham of Adams State was second in a time of 1:49.76 and Chico’s Michael Wickman was third in 1:49.82.

Shippensburg’s freshman, Neely Spence won the 5k in a time of 16:35.36. Vivien Wadeck of California State-Los Angeles was second at 16:49.51 and Adams State's Lavenna Mullenback third at 16:52.62. In the men’s 5k, it was Harding’s Daniel Kirwa who came away with the win in a time of 14:17.45. Western State's Tyler Pennel was second in a time of 14:20.99 and Brian Medigovich of Adams State third at 14:22.43.

The race for both team titles came down to the 4x400. In the women’s race, Lincoln finished ahead of Angelo State by less than 2 seconds for the 4x400 meter win and the team title. In the men’s team title race, Abilene Christian and St. Augustine’s men’s team were tied with 84 points. Lincoln’s 4x400 won the event while Abilene Christian finished ten seconds back in 7^th place.

It has been an exciting year in DII running. I will be back next fall with all the cross country news.