By FHSU Sports Information
Photo courtesy FHSU SID
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – One national title and seven All-American honors highlighted day three of the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the Fort Hays State track and field team on Saturday (May 26). The Tigers accumulated 15 team points on the women’s side while totaling 13 points in the men’s standings.
Madison Wolf earned the second national title in as many years for the Tigers, winning the javelin throw in her fourth trip to the national meet. The senior sat in second after one round of throws before posting a toss of 161-1 on her second attempt, a mark that would hold up as the best of the day. It was Wolf’s fourth All-American honor. The Bennington, Kan. native is the seventh NCAA champion from the women’s program and is the first outdoor champ since 1999 (Janet Eck, high jump).
Decano Cronin picked up his third All-American trophy in the last calendar year, finishing second in the 800m run. The senior opened the race in the back of the pack but passed five runners over the final 300 meters to finish in a time of 1:47.37, bettering his own school record by more than one second. Cronin took the national title in the same race a year ago before finishing runner-up in the 800m at the indoor meet earlier this season.
Brett Meyer earned his fourth All-American trophy in the last two years after placing fourth in the 1,500m run. The junior started towards the front of the pack before falling back to the middle of the field by the midway point. Meyer made his move around the final turn, passing two runners to finish fourth in a time of 3:46.43.
Senior Kelly Wycoff shattered her own school record in her final collegiate race, placing fifth in the 400m dash after crossing the line in 53.52. It is the Scott City, Kan. native’s second All-American award after garnering second team status a year ago in the same race.
Alexcia Deutscher earned a spot on the national podium for the first time after finishing eighth in the javelin, recording a top throw of 145-4 on her second attempt of the day. The sophomore earned All-American accolades for the second time after picking up second team honors last year.
Jake Morrow and Sam Dreiling both picked up second team All-American honors in the pole vault, each earning national status for the second time this year after finishing in the top eight indoors. Morrow placed ninth with a mark of 16-8. The Grand Island, Neb. native needed just four attempts to clear the first three bars, but was unable to eclipse the 17-0 mark, which would have tied the school record. Dreiling finished in a tie for 11th after soaring over the 16-0 bar on his first attempt.
Courtney Geiger finished 19th in the discus throw thanks to a heave of 136-8 on her first attempt. The senior was the top MIAA finisher in the event.
Adding in performances from the first two days of the national meet, the Tigers picked up 10 All-American honors.
Friday’s results
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Fort Hays State track and field team picked up three more All-American honors on day two of the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships Friday (May 25).
Defending 800m champion Decano Cronin secured a chance to defend his title in Saturday’s finals, winning the third heat of the prelims with a time of 1:49.42. The senior maintained the second position for the majority of the race before taking the lead through the final turn and holding on down the final straightaway.
Kolt Newell earned second team All-American honors after finishing in a tie for 12th in the high jump, soaring over the 6-8.75 bar on his first attempt.
TJ Dozier picked up second team All-American accolades for the second year in a row after finishing 12th in the discus, recording a toss of 167-8 on his third and final throw.
Kelly Wycoff and Amber Forbes placed 14th and 16th, respectively, in the 200m dash prelims. Wycoff completed the race in 24.44 with Forbes close behind, crossing the line in 24.53.
The national meet concludes Saturday with eight Tigers competing, including Jake Morrow (pole vault), Sam Dreiling (pole vault), Brett Meyer (1,500m run), Cronin (800m run), Madison Wolf (javelin), Alexcia Deutscher (javelin), Courtney Geiger (discus) and Wycoff (400m dash).