FARGO, N.D. – Junior Jeffrey Liles' personal best in the men's 400-meter hurdles highlighted the Western Illinois effort during the final day of The Summit League Outdoor Championships Saturday (May 12). Both the men (71 points) and women (56.50 points) finished sixth in the team standings.
With a time of 52.30, Liles placed third overall with the second fastest 400-meter hurdles performance in program history. Liles' effort ranks 83rd nationally and 46th in the NCAA West Region.
Senior Carianna Cottone set a personal best with a fourth place finish in the women's 5,000-meter run. Cottone's mark of 17:14.21 ranks fifth in program history.
Freshman Matthew Funches used a personal best leap of 46-02.75 to finish fifth in the men's triple jump. In the women's triple jump, freshman Megan McGlone placed fifth with a leap of 38-03.50.
In the women's discus throw, senior Lizzy Jones placed fifth with an effort of 149-06. With a time of 15:08.84, sophomore Michael Castel finished sixth in the men's 5,000-meter run.
Sophomore Danielle Gunn placed seventh in the women's 100-meter dash (12.34) while sophomore Alec Dorathy used a personal best time of 11.03 to finish seventh in the men's event. In the men's 110-meter hurdles, sophomore Zach Glasebrook placed ninth with a personal best time of 15.38.
With a toss of 152-02, sophomore Nathaniel Marshall placed eighth in the men's discus throw. Junior Tyler Lippert finished 13th in the event with a personal best effort of 141-08.
The men's 4x100-meter relay squad recorded Western Illinois' best relay finish. Cedric Cheeks, Patrick Thomas, Jordan Liles and Dorathy finished in fifth place with a season-best time of 42.23. The men's 4x400 (3:20.88) and women's 4x100 (48.08) squads both placed sixth while the women's 4x400 team (4:03.71) finished in seventh place.
Marshall, Jamario Taylor, Nichole Manning and Dana LaRue will compete in the NCAA West Regional from May 24-26 at the University of Texas. They will attempt to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which take place in Des Moines, Iowa from June 6-9.
Summit League Track and Field Championship Award winners
Men's Field MVP - Jared Vlastuin, South Dakota State
Men's Track MVP - Cameron Levins, Southern Utah
Men's Newcomer of the Championships - Kyle McKelvey, South Dakota
Men's Coach of the Year - Don Larson, North Dakota State
Women's Field MVP - Kayla Kovar, Southern Utah
Women's Track MVP - Kristen Radcliff, Oral Roberts
Women's Newcomer of the Championships - Analisa Huschle, South Dakota
Women's Coach of the Year - Ryun Godfrey, North Dakota State
Men - Team Rankings - 21 Events Scored
1) North Dakota State - 216
2) South Dakota - 133.50
3) Southern Utah - 131
4) South Dakota State - 112.50
5) Oral Roberts - 98
6) Western Illinois - 71
7) UMKC - 36
8) Oakland - 21
Women - Team Rankings - 21 Events Scored
1) North Dakota State - 193
2) South Dakota - 164
3) Southern Utah - 114
4) Oral Roberts - 97
5) South Dakota State - 89
6) Western Illinois - 56.50
7) UMKC - 54
8) Oakland - 28.50
9) IPFW - 23
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