By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s track and field team placed fifth at the 2021 MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships that wrapped up Sunday (Feb. 28). The Tigers saw three school records go down Sunday, in addition to two MIAA champions, six All-MIAA performances and six provisional marks on the weekend. FHSU picked up 86 team points to place fifth, matching its best-ever finish at the indoor MIAA championships.
Matthew Pieper opened the day with a come-from-behind victory in the heptathlon. The senior compiled 5,258 points over the seven events, breaking his own program record by 32 points. He was in third place with two events remaining, but climbed into the lead after clearing the second-best height in the pole vault (14-1.25) and running the second-best time in the 1,000m (2:46.72). Pieper’s total of 5,258 points is also the facility record inside Washburn’s Indoor Athletic Facility.
Ethan Lang broke the school record in the program record in the program record in the 600y run after winning the race in 1:10.91. It was Lang’s second All-MIAA honor in the race after placing third a year ago. The sophomore’s time is also a new facility record.
Pieper and Lang teamed up with Jack Pakkebier and Kaden Wren to break another school record at the end of the day, combining for a time of 3:16.62 in the 4x400m relay, one-hundredth of a second faster than the previous record. The team placed fifth in the race.
Aaron Mangan finished second and earned All-MIAA honors in the 800m run finals, running a personal-best time of 1:52.86. The time is an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark.
Philip Landrum earned a pair of All-MIAA honors after placing third in both the 60m finals and the 200m finals. The junior posted a time of 6.87 to start the day in the 60m dash while crossing the line in 21.66 later in the afternoon in the 200m dash.
The Tigers also received team points on the track from Kaden Wren’s fourth-place finish in the 600y run finals (1:11.59), Caleb Carrasco’s eighth-place finish in the 800m run finals (2:05.32), Grant Bradley’s sixth-place finish in the mile run (4:12.86).
Fort Hays State picked up points from five other field performances on Sunday, including Lucas Broxterman (fifth, 6-4.75) and Dayton Williams (eighth, 6-4.75J) in the high jump, Xavier Robinson (sixth, 47-0.75) in the triple jump and Jack Pakkebier (sixth, 4741) and Nolan Churchman (seventh, 4716) in the heptathlon.
The Tigers will now wait to see who is selected to compete in the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, set to be announced Tuesday (March 2). Those selected will compete in Birmingham, Ala. March 12-13.
Full FHSU Results
Sunday Results – Day Two
60m Dash Finals
3rd – Philip Landrum – 6.87 @
200m Dash Finals
3rd – Philip Landrum – 21.66 @
600y Run Finals
1st – Ethan Lang – 1:10.91 ! @ #
4th – Kaden Wren – 1:11.59
800m Run Finals
2nd – Aaron Mangan – 1:52.86 @
8th – Caleb Carrasco – 2:05.32
Mile Run
6th – Grant Bradley – 4:12.86
22nd – Asher Molina – 4:34.91
24th – Caleb Carrasco – 4:41.86
3,000m Run
10th – Grant Bradley – 8:34.05
11th – Joshua Doria – 8:35.88
12th – Robbie Schmidt – 8:36.31
27th – Asher Molina – 9:21.98
4x400m Relay
5th – Jack Pakkebier, Ethan Lang, Matthew Pieper, Kaden Wren – 3:16.62 !
High Jump
5th – Lucas Broxterman – 6-4.75
8th – Dayton Williams – 6-4.75J
Blayne Godshall – NH
Triple Jump
6th – Xavier Robinson – 47-0.75
Heptathlon
1st – Matthew Pieper – 5,258 ! @ #
60m – 7.23 – 802
LJ – 22-11 – 809
SP – 39-4 – 606
HJ – 6-2 – 696
60h – 8.57 – 843
PV – 14-1.25 – 702
1000m – 2:46.72 – 800
6th – Jack Pakkebier – 4,741
60m – 7.25 – 796
LJ – 22-10 – 664
SP – 37-5.25 – 571
HJ – 5-9.25 – 593
60h – 8.96 – 755
PV – 11-9.75 – 509
1000m – 2:41.84 – 853
7th – Nolan Churchman – 4,716
60m – 7.34 – 765
LJ – 22-1 – 750
SP – 33-0.25 – 489
HJ – 6-4.25 – 749
60h – 9.30 – 681
PV – 11-9.75 – 509
1000m – 2:49.32 – 773
Saturday Results – Day One
60m Dash Prelims
1st – Philip Landrum – 6.80Q
20th – Hayden Albright – 7.21
200m Dash Prelims
5th – Philip Landrum – 21.84q
18th – Hayden Albright – 22.45
600y Run Prelims
1st – Ethan Lang – 1:11.82q
2nd – Kaden Wren – 1:11.97q
800m Prelims
1st – Caleb Carrasco – 1:54.02Q
3rd – Aaron Mangan – 1:54.27Q
10th – Trever Medina – 1:55.70
5,000m Run
12th – Robbie Schmidt – 15:13.59
Distance Medley Relay
4th – Joshua Doria, Kaden Wren, Ethan Lang, Grant Bradley – 10:06.39
Long Jump
4th – Matthew Pieper – 23-7.5
10th – Xavier Robinson – 22-6.25
Pole Vault
2nd – Ryan Stanley – 16-9.25 @
7th – Jacob Clark – 15-9.25
10th – Mark Faber – 15-3.5
Weight Throw
18th – Kolgan Ohl – 51-2.25
Heptathlon
2nd – Matthew Pieper – 2,913
60m – 7.23 – 802
LJ – 22-11 – 809
SP – 39-4 – 606
HJ – 6-2 – 696
5th – Nolan Churchman – 2,753
60m – 7.34 – 765
LJ – 22-1 – 750
SP – 33-0.25 – 489
HJ – 6-4.25 – 749
7th – Jack Pakkebier – 2,624
60m – 7.25 – 796
LJ – 22-10 – 664
SP – 37-5.25 – 571
HJ – 5-9.25 – 593
Bold indicates NCAA Division II provisional mark
! indicates program record
@ indicates All-MIAA honors
# indicates Indoor Athletic Facility record