Tritons Impressive at Arkansas Spring Invite

Article by Josh Sandin of Iowa Central Community College

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Iowa Central men’s and women’s track and field programs were impressive this weekend at the Arkansas Spring Invitational hosted by the University of Arkansas

The Tritons had 15 qualifiers for the NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, five school records. Two athletes  set national records during the meet.

Wala Gime and Sharon Kwarula, both natives of Papua New Guinea, stormed to national records in hurdle events. Gime set the PNG national record in the 110-meter high hurdles as he finished tenth with a time of   14.81. The record had stood for 40 years. Kwarula broke the 400-meter hurdles record that was 21 years old as she placed eighth in 60.99.

“Setting a national record is pretty cool, these two kids have done an amazing job,” said head coach Denny Myers. “They have worked hard and this something they will remember for a long time.”

The women had six athletes punch their tickets to nationals and set four school records during the meet. Chantal Duncan and Fiona McKenna each set school records and qualified for nationals. Duncan was fifth in the 800-meters in 2:13.49 and McKenna was seventh in the 1,500-meters in 4:41.77. Jodi Miller set a school record in the 3,000-meters, an event which is not run at the national meet. She was sixth in 10:27.5. The final record set on the women’s side was in the 4x100-emter relay. The team of Javona Ford, Dominique Kimpel, Reyare Thomas and Shawanna Steplight finished third in 45.77.

Thomas and Kimpel dominated the 200-meters as Thomas won in 23.48 and Kimpel was third in 23.86 to qualify for nationals. Other national qualifiers for Iowa Central were Te’shon Adderley in the 1,500-meters (4:57.58) and Cetrena Simmons in the triple jump (1.83 meters).

On the men’s side, Iowa Central had nine athletes qualify for nationals and  set one school record. Defending NJCAA national champion James White qualified in the high jump with a school-record 2.26 meter jump.

Iowa Central had a strong showing in the 800-meters.Three Tritons qualified for the national meet, Kevin White (6^th, 1:52.77), Kuaniyal Chol (12^th, 1:54.39) and Derek Finsterwalder (13^th, 1:54.76).

The Tritons had a pair of relays qualify as well. The 4x100-meter relay team of Chris Williams, Dan-Neil Telesford, Rahim Conwell and Garfield Powell finished fifth in 41.19. The 4x400-meter team of Darrlyn Bennett, Powell, Gime and Telesford finished third in 3:12.56.

Other qualifiers for the men included Telesford in the 400-meters (8^th, 47.92), Namer Ray in the 400-meter hurdles (22^nd, 54.92) and Chris Williams in the 110-high hurdles (7^th, 14.56).

Iowa Central is back in action on Friday, April 6, when it heads to Great Bend, Kan., for the first ever Kansas/ Iowa Challenge. Iowa Central and Iowa Western will take on three programs from Kansas.