Njonjo, relay teams qualify at Cyclone Open

AMES, Iowa (Feb. 5, 2010) – Two relay teams qualified at the Cyclone Open at Iowa State University on Friday afternoon while distance runner Geoffrey Njonjo automatically qualified in the 5000 meter run.

The women’s distance medley relay ran a 12:45 to qualify provisionally for NAIA Indoor Nationals, just three seconds shy of the automatic standard. Nicole Lair ran the 1200-meter leg in a time of 3:55 followed by Kaili Tucker’s 64-second 400-meter split. Irene Masai then took the baton to run the 800-meter leg in 2:23 before Rachel Snider finished it off with a 5:22 mile.

The men’s distance medley smashed the automatic qualifying time running a 10:06. Brayden Barrientez clocked a 3:07 1200 to start things off for the team before handing off to Brady Watson who ran a 50.3 second 400-meter carry. Frezer Legesse followed with a quick 1:52.6 800-meter leg before handing off to Silas Kisorio who jogged in a 4:15 mile to win the even for the team.

Geoffrey Njonjo ran the 5000 meter run in 15:10.09 to place third in the event and meet the automatic qualifying standard.

The track and field teams will continue competition tomorrow at Iowa State and in Norman, Okla. at the Oklahoma Christian Indoor No. 2.

-OC-