RedTails Take 4th at Region XI Championships
STORM LAKE–The Men's Track and Field Team competed in the Region XI Championships on February 18-19 and finished fourth overall.
In the 60-meter dash, Ray Talbert placed third overall in the final, where he qualified fourth overall in the prelim matching his personal best time. Overall, seven out of 10 of the men in the 60m set new personal best times.
In the 200, Brigham Daniel placed ninth overall with a time of 22.95, which converted down to 22.55. This time is an indoor personal best mark, not shy off of his lifetime personal best. Jeron Shaw also ran very strong to take a time of 23.18, which converts down to a 22.78, which is also a personal best mark. All seven athletes in the 200 set new personal best marks!
In the 400, Blake Osborn was the RedTails' top finisher with a time of 50.04, placing fifth overall and Isaac Vaske took eighth, taking home a team point as well.
In the 600, both Chase Mullenix and Edgar Tapia set personal bests; Mullenix took fourth and Tapia took sixth.
In the 1000, Koby Brackemeyer placed fifth overall with a National Qualifying time of 2:34.45, Tyler Colvin set a new personal best time, Stephen Thomas wrapped up team points taking eighth. All three placed themselves into Hawkeye's top 10 list for program history.
In the mile, D'Artagnon Beaver placed ninth overall with a time of 4:40.94.
In the 4x400, Blake Osborn, Isaac Vaske, Edgar Tapia and Connor Belken all punched their ticket to nationals as they took third overall with a time of 3:21.01.
Mason Chipman, Oliver Sowell, Chase Mullenix and Stephen Thomas came down to the wire as they placed second overall and all scored team points for their relay.
In the distance medley relay, Tyler Colvin, Connor Belken, Stephen Thomas and D'artagnon Beaver all punched their ticket to nationals with a time of 10:35.10, taking fourth overall and garnering team points.
Blake Veenstra placed first overall as he came in ranked first and threw a mark of 16.47m in the shot put.
In the weight throw, Blake Veenstra placed second overall with a 16.24m throw. Miguel Rubio stepped it up and made the finals and scored team points as well taking eighth overall.
"The men's team placed fourth overall, which is also where we came in ranked," Head coach Tyler Mulder commented. "Overall we had a few athletes who were looking to punch their tickets to nationals and they got the job done! Our men's DMR, 4x400m relay and Koby Brackemeyer in the Men's 1k all qualified at the regional meet. Nearly everyone walked away with a personal best mark in either a split, or open time which is always fun to see! Overall the men's team really stepped up for each other as they each rooted for one another in a championship setting. It'll be a fun two weeks as we put the final preparations in for the national meet!"
The RedTails are back in action on Friday, March 4, for the 2022 NJCAA Indoor Nationals at Pittsburgh State University.
