Track & Field Finishes Strong at Al Owens Invite

Taylor Stepanski earned another all-american honor at the NCAA D-II Outdoor Championships...
Taylor Stepanski earned another all-american honor at the NCAA D-II Outdoor Championships...

ALLENDALE, Mich. - The SVSU track and field team wrapped up the Al Owens Invite at Grand Valley State University today. Four Cardinals provisionally qualified and one automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships.

Taylor Stepanski took first and broke the 800 meter outdoor record that she set at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800 meter run, marking a time of 2:07.02. She also automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships.

Paige Stepanski and DeAnna Stickler-Gatson provisionally qualified for the championships and posted top finishes at fourth and fifth, respectively. Stepanski finished at 2:10.86 and Stickler-Gatson at 2:11.62.

Alicia Tomlin posted another first place finish for the Lady Cardinals, coming in at 11:40.32 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.

In the 400 meter hurdles, Lina Davis posted a eighth place finish with a time of 1:05.33.

Andrew Mudd took seventh in the men's 400 meter hurdles, recording a time of 55.07.

In the 200 meter dash, Ce'Aira Richardson tied for 13th after posting a time of 25.63.

Blake Oakes marked a time of 22.49 in the 200 meter dash and took tenth place.

Desmond Baugh took eighth in the men's 110 meter hurdles, notching a time of 15.60.

Keith Rodriguez finished 12th in the 400 meter dash with a time of 51.48.

The women's 4x400 meter relay team of DeAnna Stickler-Gatson, Taylor Stepanski, Ola Hendler, and Ce'Aira Richardson took fifth, notching a time of 3:51.52.

In the men's 4X400 meter relay, Josh Simmons, Blake Oakes, Shawn Stewart, and Andrew Mudd posted a second place finish, recording a time of 3:17.34.

In the field events, Emerald Joiner took first in the shot put, marking a distance of 13.88 meters and provisionally qualifying for the NCAA championships. Joiner also finished seventh in the discus, with a throw of 42.40 meters.

Ryan Kelly threw a best distance of 14.74 meters in the men's shot put, which earned him eighth place.

In the discus throw, Ben Morrow took 11th, marking a best distance of 44.83 meters.

Robert Tarpley posted a second place finish in the long jump, marking a distance of 7.05 meters. Robert Atwater followed in fourth with a best jump of 7.00 meters.

Atwater took first for the Cardinals in the men's high jump and provisionally qualified for the NCAA championships, marking a height of 2.11 meters. Brady Watson marked a personal record, crossing the bar at a height of 2.02 meters. Sam Black tied for ninth with a mark of 1.92 meters.

In the women's high jump, Sidney Bischer posted a fourth place finish, recording a height of 1.62 meters.

Up Next for the Cardinals...

The Cardinals will travel to Hillsdale College for the Gina Relays next April 29 and 30th. 

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