02/07/12

Story by Tyler Cundith

Track – JCCC continues success at UCM Relays

OVERLAND PARK, KS – The Johnson County Community College track and field teams recorded 10 national qualifying marks, four top five performances and won seven events at the University of Central Missouri Mule Relays last weekend, at the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.

On women’s side, sophomore Chelsey Borders recorded the second fastest 60-meter time in school history, racing to a victory with a time of 7.62. That time also earned her a spot at NJCAA Indoor Championships next month.

Sophomore Justine Podvin raced to a victory in the 600-yard run with a national qualifying time of 1:28.64. That effort also ranks as the fourth fastest in JCCC history.

Borders and Podvin helped JCCC get its third win of the meet, running legs on the 4x440 yard relay. Joining them were sophomore Maisha Mitchell and freshman Brittany Parks. Mitchell also placed seventh in the 200-meter dash (26.90) and fourth in the 400-meters (1:00.68).

In the field events, freshman Macy Ebert finished second in the high jump and qualified for nationals with a mark of 5’1.25”. Freshman Monet Jackson didn’t break her record I the weight throw this week, but did post the fourth-best effort in school history with a mark of 51’5”, to place fifth. Freshman Vanessa Levy recorded a season-best effort of 39’9.75” in the shot put to earn a sixth place finish.  Sophomore Ashley Reid recorded a fourth place effort in the long jump with a leap of 16’11.25”.

In the pole vault, freshmen Jessica Tingle and McKenzie Smith each posted qualifying marks, clearing 10’0”. Tingle placed 11^th overall, while Smith fell to 13^th based on her number of attempts.

On the men’s side, sophomore Alex Sanders blazed to a victory in the 60-meter dash with a qualifying time of 6.81, and sophomore teammate Kenny Lightner placed fifth with a time of 7.04.

In the 200-meters, freshman Mark Sitek finished runner-up with a time of 22.56, and sophomore Joe Turner and freshman Peter Rogers placed seventh and eighth respectively with times of 23.15 and 23.18.

Freshman Marquel Nickens captured medalist honors in the 400-meters, crossing the finish line first in 51.13 seconds. Rogers posted a seventh place finish with a 52.61 effort.

Freshman Nickson Baselle and sophomores Cooper Bell and Javier Segura ran legs on two winning relays. These three along with sophomore Brooks Ballou won the distance medley relay with a time 10:44.18. Freshman James Bowlin joined them to win the 4x440 yard relay in 3:28.54.

In the field events, sophomore Luke Arnold placed third with a NQM of 15’1” in the pole vault, and freshman Caniggia Raynor qualified for nationals in the weight throw and shot put. In the weight throw, Raynor placed eighth overall, and his mark of 55’10.25” ranks as the third best in team history. He placed 12^th in the shot put with a mark of 49’4.25”.

Freshman Garret Smith recorded the fourth most points by a JCCC athlete in the heptathlon, scoring 4,250 to place sixth overall. 

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