DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Despite a few rather chilly days heading into the weekend, the weather warmed up come Saturday morning as did the competition in the ERAU Last Chance meet at the Embry-Riddle Track Complex.
Over 500 competitors came out for the fourth annual meet hosted by the Eagles, including both college and high school athletes.
The Eagles' track team finished strong in all events on the weekend, tallying 21 total qualifying standards and recording five new marks in the ERAU record books.
On the men's side, both relay teams qualified for the NAIA Indoor National Championship, as the 4x800m team hit an "A" standard in 7:54.56 and the 4x400m relay team crossed the line in 3:21.23, good for a "B" standard.
Individually, Evans Kirwa and Russell Snyder came away from the 3000m with "A" standards, as Kirwa took second place in 8:32.21 and Snyder followed close behind in 8:35.55, securing fourth place overall. Kirwa also bested his mark in the ERAU record books with his impressive performance and qualified under a "B" standard in the 5000m later in the day, finishing with a time of 15:21.06.
Freshman Laquardo Newbold raced his way to an "A" standard in the 600m, while teammate Mallory Jackson recorded a "B" standard in 1:22.27. Leon Robinson hit a qualifying mark as well in the 60m dash, crossing the finish line in second place with a time of 6.95. Sam Vazquez managed an "A" standard in the 1000m, taking first overall in 2:29.51.
Eagle thrower Bobby Thomas hit a "B" standard in the weight throw with a distance of 15.66, also good for a place in the ERAU record books.
ERAU's Craig Milliard competed in the first official heptathlon ever run at the ERAU Track Complex, totaling 4134.5 points and finishing third among the six total competitors. The heptathlon features seven track and field events including the 60m, long jump, high jump, shot put, 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m.
For the women, both relay teams hit qualifying marks including an "A" standard for the 4x800m team and a "B" standard for the 4x400m team.
The Eagles were dominant all over the track, as Flo Vazquez and Samia Adan both took first in their respective events with "A" standard times. Vazquez ran the 3000m in a school record time of 10:23.90 and Adan raced her way to a time of 2:57.49 in the 1000m.
Newcomer Julie Mayfield secured a spot at the NAIA Indoor National Championship in the 3000m, finishing second overall with a time of 10:29.13. Erika Langhauser ran a personal best in the mile as the No. 1 finisher, clocking in at 5:14.40, good for a "B" standard and a place in the ERAU record books. She also finished the 1000m with a "B" standard time of 3:04.70.
Freshmen Taylor Russell and Breanna Goring both had a successful weekend on the track, as Russell picked up two qualifying standards and Goring notched one. Russell hit "B" standards in the 60m dash and the 200m, securing fifth place in both events and Goring hit a "B" standard in the 60m hurdles, crossing the finish line in 9.32. Her performance was good enough for a spot in the record books.
Alex Salinas continues to lead the distance runners on the year as she raced her way to a first place finish in the 5000m, qualifying under a "B" standard time of 18:42.70.
Newcomer Brittany Cross bested her personal record in the 3000m by 30 seconds, finishing in 12:15.91 and Nikki Lykens threw 12.13m in the weight throw, her best as an Eagle.
A handful of Embry-Riddle athletes will be competing this weekend in a dual meet on the campus of Embry-Riddle, as the Eagles host West Virginia Wesleyan. The Blue and Gold will then head to Johnson City, Tenn. to compete at the 2010 NAIA Indoor National Championship beginning Thursday, Mar. 4.
