Results
LUBBOCK – The Wayland Baptist track and field teams opened their indoor seasons Friday and Saturday at the Corky Classic hosted by Texas Tech University at the Sports Performance Center.
Coach
Brian Whitlock called his teams' performances "a little disappointing.
"We have a long way to go to win any championships."
At the same time, though, Whitlock said his feelings weren't unusual for a first meet.
"A lot of coaches feel the same way about their teams," he said.
Still, Whitlock said the Pioneers weren't without their shining moments.
For the two-time defending NAIA national champion Wayland women, juniors
Cheyenne Hill-Johnson and
Jackline Cherono enjoyed nice 2020 debuts.
Hill-Johnson came away with top three times in the NAIA in both the 60 and 200 meters, clocking 7.62 and 24.82 seconds. She finished second the 200.
"Cheyenne had a really good weekend," Whitlock said.
Cherono, meanwhile, qualified for nationals in both the mile (5:12.27) and the 1,000 (3:00.60), placing third in the mile and fifth in the 1,000. Returners
Teresha Jacobs (3:01.24, seventh) and
Elizabeth Williams (3:01.87, eighth) met "B" standards in the 1,000.
Newcomer
Raheema Westfall, a junior transfer from New Mexico Junior College, turned in a top-four qualifying time in the 200 Friday, 24.88 for sixth place, then on Saturday met a B-qualifying standard in the 60, 7.80.
Raheema looked good in the 200 Friday, but struggled a bit Saturday in the 60," Whitlock said. "She'll get a lot better. She's capable of a lot more."
Another first-year transfer, junior
Coshan Campbell, ran on a banked track for just the second time in her life and met an A-standard in the 600 yards, placing third in 1:24.44. Campbell also placed second in the 800 meters (2:21.31).
"Like Raheem, Coshan will get a lot better," Whitlock said.
Meanwhile, the shining star for the defending national runner-up men's team is
Reggie Mouton, a junior transfer from Western Texas College. Mouton turned in the NAIA's fastest time of the young season in the 600 yards (1:10.68, fourth) and met a "B" standard in the 800 meters (1:55.26), finishing third.
"Reggie had a really good weekend," Whitlock said.
Also turning in a top time in the NAIA was junior
Demetrius Turner, who ran 48.08 for fifth place in the 400. "Demetrius will have a chance to win that quarter" at nationals, his coach said.
Senior
Donte Irving, hoping to get back to the form from two years ago when he won a triple jump national title, was "very consistent. He had four or five jumps over 47 feet" with a best of 48-1¾, finishing fourth.
Sophomore newcomer
Dennis Kiptoo met a B-standard in the mile (4:21.65) as he finished third. "Dennis will be more of a 3,000 and 5,000 guy, but that's an OK start for Dennis," Whitlock said.
The Pioneers' second meet will be in two weeks at the Wendy's/Pittsburg State Invitational in Kansas. Whitlock is confident his team will improve and, as expected, contend for dual national team titles in early March in South Dakota.
"We'll get there," the coach said. "I expect to be a lot better in two weeks."
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