The Tabor College outdoor track and field team concluded the regular season at the KCAC outdoor championships at Bethany College in Lindsborg Friday and Saturday.
?Overall, I was proud of how both teams competed in this year?s KCAC championships,? coach Dave Kroeker said. ?This has been a fun group to work with throughout both the indoor and outdoor seasons.?
The Bluejays turned in eight All-KCAC performances earned by placing among the top three at the meet. Seven of those honors were earned by the men?s team, who brought home four gold medals.
Garrett Daugherty highlighted the men?s performances by winning both the 1,500 (4 minutes, 9.07 seconds) and the 800 (1:55.50).
Tyler Entz won the high jump (6-2). Caleb Blue won the 200 (22.52) and placed second in the 400 (49.38).
Completing the men?s All-KCAC performances with third-place finishes were Avery Franz in the triple jump (44-41?4) and Jonathan Gibson in the shot put (46-4).
Meanwhile, Hannah Holmes was the women?s sole All-KCAC performer. She placed second in the 10,000 (40:32.02).
A number of Tabor athletes earned All-KCAC honorable mention honors by placing fourth, fifth or sixth.
For the men, those earning honorable mention included: Daniel Quiring, fourth in the shot put (46-21?4); Bret Mueller, Josh Richert, Tyler Parrish and Daugherty, fourth in the 4×800 (8:11.91); Joel Allen, fifth in the 3,000 steeplechase (10:00.81); Shawn Johnston, sixth in the hammer (146-111?4); Zac Krehbiel, fifth in the 100 (11.08) and sixth in the 200 (23.16); Krehbiel, Blue, Keith Francis and Dewayne Biggs, sixth in the 4×100 (45.07); Mueller, sixth in the 1,500 (4:15.28); and Blue, Mueller, Parrish and Daugherty, sixth in the 4×400 (3:28.06).
Tabor women earning honorable mention included: Jessica Samuel, fourth in the 200 (26.86); Ashton Kroeker, fourth in the high jump (5-1) and fifth in the triple jump (36-111?2); Holmes, fifth in the 5,000 (19:49.87); Samuel, Kroeker, Paula Young and Sarah Hagen, fifth in the 4×400 (4:12.87); and Hagen, sixth in the 400 (1:03.34).
Kroeker said three men suffered injuries during competition, including Keith Francis, Josh Richert and Oree Johnson.
?All (three) would have made significant contributions had they been able to compete based on (their) previous performances and preliminary qualifications for finals in several events,? Kroeker said. ?It’s hard to see athletes who have worked so hard not be able to compete as well as they could have, but that is the nature of athletics to some degree.?
As a team, the men placed fourth with 99 points. Friends won with 176.
The women?s team tied for seventh with 37 points. Friends won with 233.
Coming?Kroeker said a few athletes will compete in a last-chance meet this weekend to attempt to qualify for nationals.
Two Bluejays have already qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala., May 21-23. Daugherty will run the 800, while Holmes will run the marathon.
