Track and field athletes meet NAIA qualifying standards

(Feb. 13, 2010) – The Oklahoma Christian track and field teams hit more NAIA qualifying marks in the second day of competition this weekend.

On day two of the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., Geoffrey Njonjo ran the 3000-meter run in a time of 8:39.84, placing 12th, to qualify automatically for the NAIA indoor national meet. Teammate David McWilliams hit the provisional qualifying standard in the same race running an 8:48.08 and placed 17th.

Assistant track coach, Mark Thompson, competed in the Invitational 3000-meter run and placed sixth overall with a time of 8:13.57.

In Norman, Okla., several OC athletes claimed top three finishes in their respective events or met the NAIA qualifying marks.

Irene Masai met the provisional mark in the 600-meter run with a 1:39.77, which placed her fourth in the event. Teammate Rachel Snider finished steps behind just shy of provisional qualifying.

In the 3000 meters, Frezer Legesse ran to a second place finish after clocking an 8:59.51.

In the throws, Denise Mattoon again met the automatic qualifying marks in both the weight throw and the shot put. Mattoon threw far enough for second place in the weight throw with a toss of 50 feet, four inches. Mattoon then turned around to capture the shot put with a 44 foot, nine and three-quarter inch throw.

Michelle Marcha placed in the top three in the women’s high jump for the third meet in a row. With a jump of 5 feet, one and three-quarter inches, Marcha placed third in the event.

The OC track and field teams will return to action next Saturday at the Sooner Open in Norman, Okla.

-OC-

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Men’s basketball star Charlie Smith, tennis coach Kris Miller, track standout Kathy (Nelson) Belcoff, softball ace Leah Carrell and current track and cross country All-American Silas Kisorio participated in the formal induction ceremony, held in OC’s Gaylord University Center.

Don Meyer, the NCAA leader in career men’s basketball coaching wins with 923, was the keynote speaker. The former coach at OC’s sister institution, Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., praised the five inductees for developing their athletic gifts and encouraged the 250 people in attendance to do the same with the gifts they’d been blessed with by God. Watch a video recapping the night’s events.