Cardinals Track & Field traveled to Tiffin, OH to compete in the Reggie Thomas Classic hosted by Tiffin University. With more than 300 student-athletes competing in the meet, the Cardinals took home two school records, two NCCAA qualifying marks and a number of personal bests.
Setting the record breaking pace on the track, sprinter Seneca Miller (Ypsilanti, MI) ran 59.96 in the women's 400m to break the current school record. Senior Gabby Porter (Quincy, MI) not only punched her ticket to the National Christian College Athletic Association Championships in the women's steeplechase, but also broke the current school record with a time of 12:35.79. She went on to run 2:28.25 in the 800m later in the day. Also, qualifying for NCCAAs was Senior Alan Jones (Canton, MI). Jones ran 11.23 in the 100m to grab his third spot in NCCAAs. He has already qualified in the 400m and 200m for this outdoor season.
In addition to these record breaking performances, the Cardinals also saw a number of personal bests. Distance runners Meg Espinoza (Manistique, MI) and Lydia Schroeder (Napoleon, OH) ran personal bests in the 1,500m and 800m races. Espinoza ran 5:38.49 in the 1,500m and 2:51.40 in the 800m., while Schroeder ran 5:42.00 in the 1,500m and 2:43.18 in the 800m. Cardinals distance continued to see success with Adam Dimaggio (Irma, SC) running a season best in the 1,500m and 800m, running 4:46.26 and 2:16.80, respectively. Teddy Eising (Royal Oak, MI) ran a personal best in the 1,500m with a time of 4:41.12. Mike Brannan (Dearborn Heights, MI) saw success in his events, running 2:15.34 in the men's 800m and throwing 31.83m in the men's javelin. Brannan also went on to join teammates Alan Jones, Noah Starkey (Macomb, MI) and Avery Sanchez (Allen Park, MI) in the men's 4x400, running 3:50.21. Sanchez wrapped up the distance squad success, seeing a personal best in the men's steeplechase, running 11:24.02.
On the sprints side, Starkey ran the men's open 400m race, running 53.44. He was joined by fellow freshman Amanda Wood (Macomb, MI), running 1:03.85 in the women's 400m race. Senior Mae Dulin (Detroit, MI) ran 13.37 in the 100m and 28.22 in the 200m.
In the field events, Ethan Szabados (Brownstown, MI) and Zachary Yoder (Mount Pleasant, MI) competed in the men's high jump. Women's throwers Hayle Flowers (Waverly, MI) and Payton Lovins (Wauseon, OH) competed together in shot put and the discus throw. Lovins threw a personal best of 22.52 in the discus and Flowers went on to also compete in the women's javelin, throwing 25.29m, just shy of her personal best. On the men's throws side, Noah Pastrana (Dayton, OH), Richard Branch (Detroit, MI), Zachary Belinsky (Beulah, MI) and Joshua Wood (Champagne, IL) all competed in the hammer throw where Belinsky saw a personal best with a toss of 31.23m. Branch went on to also throw javelin (41.81m) and competed in the shot put where he saw a personal best with a heave of 11.31m. Wood wrapped up the field events personal bests, throwing 20.89m in the men's discus throw.
The Cardinals resume competition next Saturday April 24, 2021 with the Legacy Invitational hosted by CUAA. In addition to the meet, the event features alumni and senior recognition beginning 10am. With covid conscious practices in place, limited spectators will be allowed. Field events begin at 12:15, and track events begin at 1pm. To learn more about the event, please visit https://concordiacardinals.com/Concordia_Cardinals_Legacy_MeetCa
