Final results
MOUNT VERNON – A pair of determined outdoor track and field squads represented Wartburg College well May 12-14 at Cornell College’s Ash Park Stadium.
Coach Marcus Newsom’s women’s squad added to its remarkable string of successive league titles winning the program’s 12th straight and 15th overall. The Knights’ men’s squad gave top 10 ranked Central a superb battle to finish second by less than 70 points.
“I am very proud of both teams,” Newsom said. “For the men, I’m extremely excited with their work ethic and commitment. The team fought all weekend and was in the hunt throughout the final day. The guys knew it and kept working hard.”
Three individual event titles helped the Orange and Black make a strong run at the top of the team podium. Newsom’s group was especially strong in the field events. Junior Jordan Sathoff (Packwood)repeated as champion in the high jump, clearing six feet, eight inches, while sophomore Coltin Hahle (Mason City) claimed the discus (148 feet, three inches). On the track, senior Jon Stover (Humboldt) was first in the 3000 meter steeplechase (9:18.72). Wartburg also recorded runner-up finishes in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays, 400 meter hurdles, triple jump, shot put, discus and decathlon.
In the women’s portion of the IIACs, it was a record-setting weekend in regards to points and events. Senior Brittany Melloy (Mount Pleasant), in tough weather conditions, recorded a season’s best and meet mark in the 400 meter hurdles (61.35 seconds). She came back later Saturday to anchor the 4x400 team of sophomore Kendra Kregel (Delhi), senior Jennifer Ganshirt (Dubuque), freshman Karly Cochrane (Mount Vernon) and herself to a 3:50.37 to also set a new meet mark. Melloy’s weekend also included anchoring the inaugural 4x800 meter relay champions of herself, junior Audrey Weidman (Council Bluffs) and freshmen Kalysta Adkins (Earlham) and Cochrane to a thrilling win Friday night.
Due to those three event titles and the 400 meter hurdle record, Melloy was named the conference’s outdoor track and field track Athlete of the Year. It’s the fifth time in program history the Knights have earned an AOY honor.
“My main goal was to go out and win the 400 hurdles,” Melloy said. “I’ve been fighting for that the last two years now. I was just wanted to come here and give my all. It was my last conference championship. The relays were special, too. I just wanted to be able to come through strong in the finish for both of them.”
“Her work ethic has been incredible,” Newsom said. “I am so proud of how she went out and competed this weekend. She is just coming off being sick a few weeks ago, too, and now here she is leading the team to the championship. Brittany is very well-deserving to be the conference MVP.”
Melloy wasn’t the lone Knights’ athlete to shine. Junior sprinter Faith Burt (Cedar Falls) swept the 100 and 200 meter races, while junior Nevada Morrison (Chicago, Ill.), added a win in the open 400. Nevada’s twin sister, Skye Morrison (Chicago, Ill.), joined Burt in a third straight sweep, winning the long and triple jumps. Seniors Brittany Thomas (Kansas City, MO), and Lori Tlach (Britt) added titles in the 100 meter hurdles and 5000 meter run, respectively. The Knights also swept to wins in all three relays with the 4x100 joining the aforementioned 4x400 and 4x800. Freshman Camesha Goods (Danville, Virginia), turned in a school record during the weekend as well with a runner-up finish of 4,469 points in the heptathlon.
“I have been blessed to coach some special young women’s athletes,” Newsom, who was named the conference’s women’s Coach of the Year for the 12th successive season, said. “The tradition, and having won 12 in a row, is special. It really won’t sink in, but it when it does it will be a ‘Wow’. I’m very proud of this team, as I have been with all 12.”
Wartburg wraps up its regular season by sending athletes to last chance national qualifying meets at North Central College of Naperville, Ill., Augustana College of Rock Island, Ill., and UW-La Crosse Thursday and Friday, May 19 and 20.
