Track and field prepares for NWAACCs early next week

Mt Hood’s Earl Klapstein Stadium hosted the NWAACC Southern Championships Saturday, where the Saints track and field team put in a convincing performance in front of their home crowd.

With solid efforts, both the women’s and men’s teams finished third out of six teams participating in the meet. The Saints women ran up a score of 161.5 points, while the men scored 123 points.

“Our goal was to finish strong and compete with schools like Lane (LCC) and Clackamas (CCC) who were the two favorites, and we did,” said head coach Doug Bowman. (Lane and Clackamas placed 1-2 in both the men’s and women’s competition.) “Some of their strong athletes in throws did not perform well and ours did.”

Two Saints finished on top in the discus, as sophomore Cody Quinton threw for first (43.03 meters), while freshman Tyler Jackson came in second (42.96 meters).

Freshman Zach Kilgore placed second in the shot put with 13.42 meters, while Jackson came right behind him in third with 13.27 meters.

Another athlete with a good performance was sophomore Justin Schlaht, who earned the top slot in the javelin throw with 55.12 meters and also took third in the hammer throw, with 42.45 meters.

Freshman Janaree Porter represented the Saints fairly well on the home track as he finished sixth in the 100-meter sprint (11.35), and came in fifth in the 200-meter sprint (22.47).

Two freshman made the top five in the 800-meter run, as Brandon Raleigh ran for third place (1.59.41) and Taylor Hybl came in fifth (2.01.47).

In the 110-meter hurdles, freshman Devon Larson finished third (15.90) and his teammate, freshman Kingsley Mgbadigha came in fifth (16.35).

Over in the high jump, freshman Brock Otis finished sixth with 1.77 meters. Otis also came in sixth in the triple jump (12.62 meters).

The women’s team got good performances from athletes who were still looking to qualify for the NWACC Championship meet, coming early next week.

All eyes were on sophomore McKenzie Warren, who had another dominant meet, as she finished in first place in the shot put (12.78 meters), first in the discus (44.28 meters) and first once again in the hammer throw (50.34 meters).

“McKenzie was able to show her hard work by finishing on top, over some of the Lane Community College women who outdistanced her last year,” said Bowman.

Mt. Hood showed well in the high jump, too. Freshman Marley Yates took first place (1.62 meters), followed by freshman Xayna Robinson in fourth (1.57 meters) and sophomore Carrie Haguewood in sixth place (1.52 meters).

In the 100-meter dash, two Saints came in good positions as sophomore Kristi Kachel finished third (12.83), while Yates rounded off the top five (13.06).

Sophomore Caitlyn Safley ran for fifth in the 200-meter sprint (26.04), improving her time from the previous meet. Yates finished sixth in the same event (26.70).

Beating her previous time by four seconds, freshman Shanice Lakes finished third in the 400-meter sprint (57.78), while Safley came right behind in fourth (57.99).

Lakes rounded out her afternoon by taking second in the triple jump with 11.01 meters, while freshman Xayna Robinson finished sixth with 10.49 meters.

The 4 x 400 meter relay was dominated by the Saints team, which cleared the line six seconds faster than the next opponent (4.06.46.).

The last stop in the season for the Saints track and field athletes will be the NWAACC Championship meet, which takes place in Spokane on Monday-Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m.

“In the championships, we are looking good to fight for fourth place, and we are looking for the challenge,” said Bowman.

Mt. Hood Community College will be represented well, as 18 men and 16 women of the team will give it their all, one last time.

“This last meet of the year is a reward (for) all the work put in,” said Bowman. “I am very proud of the time, effort and commitment each athlete and coach has put in this season.”