By Steve Holt, Sports Writer
The Wildcats are back on top in the Lone Star Conference.
The ACU men’s and women’s track and field teams swept the conference titles Friday and Saturday for the first time since 2003, when the women’s team won its last title.
Nobody thought the women would win in such dominant fashion, however.
Wildcat women won 15 of 21 individual events or relays en route to a new LSC Championship Meet record of 290 team points.
Several women were multi-event winners. Freshman Jessica Withrow, afternt fashion, however.
Wildcat women won 15 of 21 individual events or relays en route to a new LSC Championship Meet record of 290 team points.
Several women were multi-event winners. Freshman Jessica Withrow, after winning the heptathlon on Tuesday, came back to win the high jump (5-7) and the long jump (18-0) on Saturday.
Freshman Kim Prather took the conference titles in the 100 meters (11.73) and 200 meters (23.98), while running a leg on the winning 4×100-meter relay team (47.04).
Trina Cox also was a two-event winner, claiming titles in both the 5,000-meter run (17:30.60) and the 10,000-meter run (38:02.43).
Jule also helping the 4×100-meter relay team run a winning time of 40.60.
Freshman David Chirchir was also a two-time champion, winning the 800-meter run in 1:55.67 and the 1,500-meter run in 3:55.01, while placing second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:43.83).
Jordan Johnson led an ACU blitz in the 400-meter dash, which went 1-2-3 in the event. Johnson ran a season-best time of 46.68 to place first, followed by Johnny Jacob’s 47.5 and Delt Cockrell’s 47.52. Senior Elton Garus-Oab was fifth in the race.
That trio, along with Brant Gilbert, comprised the winning 4×400-meter relay team, which won one of the most exciting events of the day with a time of 3:10.41.
Other winners for the men’s team included Nicodemus Naimadu in the 5,000-meter run (15:10.94), Serge Gasore in the 10,000-meter run (31:54.48), Vladyslav Gorbenko in the triple jump (52-6 3/4) and Cory Aguilar in the pole vault (16-2).
Next up for the Wildcats are the Penn Relays Wednesday through Saturday in Philadelphia. Penn will feature some of the top talent in the nation, giving ACU athletes another opportunity to post new or improved qualifying marks or times for the NCAA Division II National Championships, which will take place May 25-27 in Emporia, Kan.
