UMKC Track & Field: Kansas City Women Almost Take the ‘Ship, Men Grab Third at WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships UMKC Track & Field: Kansas City Women Almost Take the ‘Ship, Men Grab Third at WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships
After three long days of competition, the UMKC men and women left the track and field with outstanding performances in all areas of events. Much controversy was featured on the runway when Briana Carter received a debatable disqualification in the triple jump—costing the Kansas City women 10 points, and therefore the conference title. However, the women finished second overall with 164 points and the men finished third with 99 points at the 2015 WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Starting the morning off in the ring, two out of the three men’s throwers were able to score points for the ‘Roos in the men’s 35 lb. weight throw. Throwing a career best and taking fifth place was the freshman Jacob Hockman with his mark of 14.10m (46-03.35), good for four points and Second Team All-WAC. Immediately following in seventh place was shot put champion Blake Hocking who recorded a toss of 13.94m (45-09), receiving three points. Mitch Gaylord came in ninth place and also recorded a career best with his toss of 13.11m (43-00.25).
Sophomore from Ashland, Wis., Bryce Miller takes the conference title in the men’s one-mile run with a time of 4:23.59, receiving all ten points. Following not far behind was junior Kolton Sheldon clocking in at 4:27.46 with a third place finish. Taylor Wardall crossed the finish line at 4:29.50 with sixth place. Miller and Sheldon receive First Team All-WAC honors while Wardall earns Second Team.
On the women’s side, Sarah Fogarty made huge strides as she clutched third place in the one mile run with a time of 5:16.53, garnering six points for the team and earning First Team All-WAC honors.
Joshua Schirmer was fifth in the 60-meter hurdles clocking in at 8.33 seconds. For the women’s 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Mallory Short had a stellar performance taking the conference title with a career best of 8.57. This time beats Hall of Famer Angela Harris’s school record of 8.61 that was set in 2000. Junior Sydia Darker ran a season best 8.76 which granted her fifth place—now ranks second best in school history and Second Team All-WAC.
Attacking hard in the lanes for men’s 400m final dash, freshman Eric Yarbrough ran a career best with a fifth place finish clocked in at 49.91, good for four points. Terrone Garner, after almost biffing it with a Grand Canyon competitor, came in seventh place with his time of 51.26, receiving three points. Yarbrough receives Second Team All-WAC.
The lady Roos’ ran their career bests in the women’s 400m dash earning a total of 20 points for UMKC. The junior from St. Louis, Mo., Chantel Bethune, came in second place with her time of 56.31—best in school history. Senior Briana Carter followed just a hair behind with a time of 56.35 taking third (second in school history), freshman Rachel Culberson snatched seventh with her time of 58.27. Bethune and Carter are honored First Team All-WAC.
In the men’s 60-meter dash final, senior Kenny Roach matched his career best crossing the finish line at 6.85 taking second place—fourth all time in school history, First Team All-WAC. Daniel Prioleau ran his career best with a time of 6.92 taking sixth place. Genel Rollins finished second for the women’s final 60m dash, running a career best of 7.66—best in UMKC history while also First Team All-WAC. Sydia Darker finished fourth also running a career best at 7.73—fourth all time school history and Second Team All-WAC.
Meanwhile, putting on a clinic in the shot put ring, senior Dahlia Dyson and junior Kelsey Benoit took first and second, respectively. Dyson recorded a season best tossing the shot put 13.77 (45-02.25) while Benoit tossed 13.61m (44-08). Both earn First Team All-WAC honors.
Running laps in the men’s 800m finals, lone freshman Cyle Quick crossed the finish line in seventh place with a time clocked in at 1:59.65, good for two points for the men’s team. For the lady ‘Roos, senior Veronica Rollins did it again in the 800m finals taking the conference title clocking in at 2:18.81. Brooke Guiot made a great battle for third place finishing with a time of 2:20.20. These performances grant them First Team All-WAC honors.
Joshua Harden finished fourth in the men’s long jump, leaping 7.04m (23-01.25)—a career best and Second Team All-WAC honors. Competing along side in the women’s high jump was Dasjah Mason clearing the bar at 1.64m (5-04.5)—a career best with a fifth place finish and Second Team All-WAC honors.
Genel Rollins finished in sixth place for the women’s 200m final dash clocking in at 25.30, a career best and Second Team All-WAC honors, while Kamaya Tucker followed in seventh with a 25.41 finish—both earning UMKC five points.
Taking another conference title, this time in the men’s 3000m was the machine Bryce Miller. He ran across the finish line in good fashion at 8:57.53, giving UMKC ten points. Jason Fambrough snatched fourth with his time of 8:57.94, to garner five pointsand earn Second Team All-WAC. Correspondingly and to no surprise, Courtney Frerichs took another conference title in the 3000m, crossing the finish line at 10:37.48.
In the final field event of the meet, women’s triple jump, Briana Carter stunned audiences with her trial of leaps, leading up to the best jump of her career. Making a final jump at 12.71m, the senior was thought to have won the conference title, but at the last minute was disqualified because of having jumped in the incorrect flight. In much devastation, this disqualification cost the women’s team what was going to be their first championship since 1999.
Nonetheless, Patricia Miller and Sydia Darker were able to score a few points with fifth and sixth place finishes. Miller triple jumped 11.59 (38-00.25), a season best, while Darker leaped at 11.43m (37-0). They combined for a total of six points.
Concluding the meet with outstanding performances in the 4x400m relay, the women’s 4×4 consisting of Rachel Culberson, Briana Carter, Veronica Rollins, and Chantel Bethune finished in second place with a time of 3:52.73, receiving eight points.
Final Results
Men’s Team Scores
1. Utah Valley 231
2. Grand Canyon 208.50
3. UMKC 99
4. UTPA 48.50
5. Seattle U 37
6. Chicago State 25
Women’s Team Scores
1. Grand Canyon 172
2. UMKC 164
3. Utah Valley 123.50
4. New Mexico St. 83
5. Seattle U 64
6. UTPA 24.50
7. Chicago St. 23
8. Bakersfield 9