Maryville, Mo. — The Central Methodist Men's Track & Field program delivered a strong all-around performance to place fourth at the Heart of America Athletic Indoor Conference Championships, totaling 99.5 points over the two-day meet.
The Eagles finished behind team champion Park University (174 points), MidAmerica Nazarene University (112), and Benedictine College (102.5).
Freshman Isaac Lawson highlighted the weekend with three school records. two in the sprints and one in the relays. He won the conference title in the 200 meters, clocking an NAIA provisional qualifying time of 21.58 seconds.
Lawson also added a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters (48.16), and another NAIA provisional mark.
Junior Corlando Chambers captured gold in the 600 meters with a school record, conference record and NAIA "A" standard time of 1:18.29. It is currently the fourth fastest time in the NAIA seasn this season.
Chambers also placed fifth in the 400 meters (48.20) for a provisional qualifying mark.
In the 60 meters, junior Charles Young placed sixth in 6.89, while also competing in the 200 meters, finishing 10th.
Sophomore Logan Bass secured a fifth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles final (8.27), after qualifying third in prelims. Senior Chase Vickrey also secured a seventh-place finish (8.49).
Junior Oliver Cabana finished third in the 800 meters (1:55.50) and the 1000 meters (2:30.75). Sophomore Dimitrios Gkantatsios also finished eighth in the 1000 meter run.
Tyrone Summerall placed eighth in the 600 meters (1:21.88), while Joseph Thompson added a point in the 3000-meter race walk.
Sophomore Wyatt Smith led the throwers with a third-place finish in the shot put (15.63m), earning six points and an NAIA provisional mark.
Junior Brian Shine recorded a fourth-place finish in the triple jump (14.46m) and tied for eighth in the high jump (1.84m). Sophomore Azaan Stoughtenborough placed sixth in the triple jump (14.13m).
In the pole vault, seniors Myron Love and Neil Green tied for eighth (4.15m) and sophomore Ryan Graves cleared 1.84m in the high jump to place seventh and score two points.
The Eagles' relays were pivotal in the team standings. The 4x400-meter relay team of Lawson, Chambers, Bass, and Summerall placed second in 3:14.86, earning NAIA "A" standard qualification for nationals and setting a new school record.
CMU also secured a runner-up finish in the Distance Medley Relay (10:30.66) with Randy Rojas Mendez, Ronald Cottle, Tristan Hickman, and Gkantatsios.
The 4x800-meter relay squad of Hickman, Cabana, Rojas Mendez, and Gkantatsios placed third (7:53.84).
Waisale Inoke turned in a strong heptathlon performance, earning event victories in the high jump (1.92m), long jump (6.92m), and shot put (12.65m). He also added points in the 60 meters, 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1000 meters to cap a competitive multi-event showing and winning the conference title with 4,608 total points.
Central will next turn its attention to the NAIA Indoor National Championships March 5-7 in Gainesville, Florida.
#TakeFlight
