Women tracksters claim national title; men 2nd

Team Results
Individual Results
Women All-Americans
Men All-Americans
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Brian Whitlock said it might have been the best day in the history of Wayland Baptist athletics, and the Pioneer track and field teams – as usual – were a huge part of it.
 
On a day when the men's and women's basketball teams both played for conference championships, a pitcher threw the sixth no-hitter in WBU baseball history, and swimmers and wrestlers represented well at national competitions, it was another national title by the women's track and field team – and another second for the men – that was the cherry on top of it all!
 
"It's a special day," Whitlock said.
 
Led by Most Valuable Performer Rochene Smith, the WBU women pulled out of a four-team chase to finish in first place Saturday at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships, scoring 72 points. Doane, Neb., was second with 61½, followed by defending champion Indiana Tech with 61 and Siena Heights, Mich., with 59½.
 
It's the sixth indoor national title – and first since 2009 – for Wayland's women, who also have won three outdoor crowns, including last year. Wayland placed third at indoors in 2015.
 
"I'm proud of our kids and the way they competed. They fought hard," Whitlock said.
 
It's the second consecutive year a Sooner Athletic Conference team won the national women's indoor championship. Former NAIA member Oklahoma Baptist won in 2015.
 
For the Pioneer men, Indiana Tech once again proved too deep and put up 105 points to Wayland's 77, winning its third title in a row. It was the fifth consecutive second-place finish at indoor and outdoor nationals for WBU and the seventh straight indoor meet the Pioneers have been first or second. In their history, they have six indoor titles and one outdoors.
 
It's the 13^th straight national meet the WBU men have earned a trophy by finishing in the top three.
 
"We faltered a little bit today, but in reality we did about all we could do," Whitlock said. "We went for it, but at the end of the day we just didn't have enough events. We're not as deep. The uphill climb was just too much.
 
"The guys fought until the end, but came up short."
 
As for both teams, "They kept up our strong tradition in Wayland track and field in a big way," added Whitlock, who after serving as an assistant coach returned as the head coach this season and earned his sixth NAIA National Coach of the Year honor, including No. 5 on the women's side. He's guided teams to eight team titles.
 
As she did Friday when she placed eighth in the long jump, Tiona Owens got things started off right Saturday but this time managed to place second (40 feet, 3½ inches), just one centimeter behind the winner.
 
"That first event is so important for the kids' spirits and to get off to a good start," Whitlock said. "That was a huge PR for her. That got our day started off in a great way."
 
Bianca Farrington also took second in the 400 (55.87 seconds), quite an accomplishment for someone competing in only her third meet all season.
 
"Bianca's been out a bunch with injury and missed tons of training," Whitlock said. "She wasn't able to defend her title, but she fought hard and gave it everything she had."
 
Wayland's first of two individual national champions was Monique McPherson, who won the 600 in 1:31.23. Tiffany Cano was seventh (1:38.69).
 
"That went about as well as could be expected," Whitlock said. "Monique fell short of the national record she wanted, but she led from start to finish and did great. And for a freshman, Tiffany got us two big points and kept the ball rolling."
 
Whitlock said the 60-meter dash "didn't go like we wanted it to," with Smith, the fastest qualifier, finishing second in 7.45 and Browner, the defending champion, settling for fourth in 7.53.
 
"We lost a few points there and Rochene was disappointed, but she came back and won the 200" in 23.87, followed by Browner in second (24.03) and Gregria Higgs in seventh (24.77).
 
"Any time you go 1-2 in an event that's nice," Whitlock said.
 
Despite running into trouble in the 5,000, Jackline Jemeli managed to finish seventh (18:10.79).
 
"She actually had to stop and put her shoe back on and retie it, but she was able to come from 25 meters or so behind and get back in the race," Whitlock said. "Jackie ran her heart out."
 
By the time the final event of the day, the 4x400 relay, arrived, Whitlock said the crown was Wayland's for the taking.
 
"We just didn't need to drop a stick or have something crazy happen," he said.
 
Without Farrington who was injured after the 400, Wayland went with McPherson, Smith, Cano and Browner, who secured the team title by taking second place in 3:45.28.
 
"Those girls did a great job doing what they had to do to win a national (team) title," Whitlock said.
 
The coach called it a "solid team effort," giving a special tip of the cap to MVP Smith for being credited with a meet-best 20 team points and to Browner, a senior along with Farrington and Higgs.
 
"Alexis didn't have the storybook individual titles like she had last year, but she was a big team player," he said. "To see her anchor that 4x4 home, that was real good to see.
 
In the men's competition, Whitlock said while finishing second does get a bit old, "You have to put things in perspective and be happy with it. We did a lot of special things on that side as well.
 
Like the WBU women, the Pioneer men also brought home two individual titles, the first by Joshua Helom in the 400 who broke the tape in 47.94. Devon Sanders was fifth in 48.58.
 
"That was awesome," Whitlock said, pointing out that Helom owned the third-fastest time coming into the day.
 
In the 600, Adam Berhe finished second (1:18.66), Kelson Pierre fourth (1:19.19) and Kevin Dunn seventh (1:22.60).
 
"The 600 guys did a great job. Adam had an injury-plagued season last year, so that was a huge PR for him to be national runner-up."
 
Whitlock noted that Pierre was at a bit of a disadvantage running in a slower finals section, which he won by over two seconds. (The meet featured races with two sections of four runners due to having a six-lane track instead of eight.)
 
"I truly believe Kelson was one of the top 600 runners here," Whitlock said. As for Dunn, "Kevin might have been last on the list coming in, so this was special for him to be all-American."
 
Wayland took the top two spots in the 60 with Scruggs nosing out Handsborough in a photo finish by 3/1000ths of a second, 6.743 to 6.746.
 
"I wish they both could have won," Whitlock said, adding, "I'm real happy for Justin because he had never won an open event, so this was the first championship for him individually."
 
Wayland stumbled a bit in the 800 where Tre Hinds settled for third place (1:53.65).
 
"Tre got boxed in, stepped on and cut off," Whitlock said. "If we run it 10 times, he wins it nine."
 
WBU had three all-Americans in the 200. Handsborough was third in 21.30, Sanders fifth in 22.02 and Scruggs, who injured a hamstring during the race, eighth. Whitlock touted Sanders, a sophomore. "That 200/400 double is really tough, but he had a great meet."
 
Finally, in the 4x400 relay, Helom, Handsborough, Hinds and Pierre finished in second place despite running a season's best 3:11.45. It snapped an impressive streak of consecutive mile relay firsts at the meet.
 
"We were trying to go out with a title like we've done so many years. It's always between us and Indiana Tech, and today they got us. They almost broke our national record from last year."
 
Whitlock said the men "did a great job of continuing our tradition. I sure would like to have gotten a title with those seniors (Scruggs and Handsborough, as well as Dunn).
 
But he's certainly not complaining about the women finishing first and the men second.
 
"We're really excited. We give God the glory. It's something Wayland can be excited about."
 
The coach thanked athletic director Rick Cooper, trainer Stuart Swafford, and especially assistant coach Remuro Henry, who took over for former head coach Rohan Thompson in coaching the sprinters and jumpers.
 
"Replacing someone who I would call a legend, he did an excellent job," Whitlock said of Henry.
 
Mostly, though, Whitlock thanked the student-athletes.
 
"This is a special group of kids we have here."
 Team Standings: 1. Wayland Baptist 72; 2. Doane, Neb. 61.5; 3. Indiana Tech 61; 4. Siena Heights, Mich. 59.5; 5. Concordia, Neb. 43; 13. Oklahoma City 20 (52 teams scored).
Triple jump: 2. Tiona Owens, 40-3½
400: 2. Bianca Farrington, 55.87
600: 1. Monique McPherson, 1:31.23; 7. Tiffany Cano, 1:38.69
60: 2. Rochene Smith, 7.45; 4. Alexis Browner, 7.53
200: 1. Smith, 23.87; 2. Browner, 24.03; 7. Gregria Higgs, 24.77
5,000: 7. Jackline Jemeli, 18:10.79
4x400 relay: 2. WBU (McPherson, Smith, Cano, Browner), 3:45.28Team Standings: Indiana Tech 105; 2. Wayland Baptist 77; 3. Concordia, Neb. 58; 4. Siena Heights, Mich. 47; 5. Doane, Neb. 45; 6. Oklahoma City 37 (57 teams scored)
400: 1. Joshua Helom, 47.94; 5. Devon Sanders, 48.58
600: 2. Adam Berhe, 1:18.66; 4. Kelson Pierre, 1:19.19; 7. Kevin Dunn, 1:22.60
60: 1. Justin Scruggs, 6.743; 2. Kabroderan Handsborough, 6.746
800: 3. Tre Hinds, 1:53.65
200: 3. Handsborough, 21.30; 5. Sanders, 22.02; 8. Scruggs, 32.22
4x400 relay: 2. WBU (Helom, Handsborough, Hinds, Pierre), 3:11.45