May 22, 2008

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A steady rain that fell for the morning and early afternoon did not overshadow the first day of competition at the NAIA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Championship. The three-day event is being held at Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Ill.

Repeat national champions were crowned in four different events on Thursday. Leading the way was senior Ruky Abdulai of Simon Fraser University (B.C.), who won her fourth consecutive NAIA women's long jump championship. Abdulai recorded a distance of 6.51 meters (21 feet, 4 1/4 inches) to become just the third woman in NAIA history to win four straight titles in the same event. In addition, Abdulai matches Vivian Chukwuemeka of Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) with eight individual NAIA outdoor championships.

Azusa Pacific junior Aron Rono became the first male in NAIA championship history to win the 10,000-meter run three years in a row. Rono crossed the finish line with a final time of 29:56.17. Sophomore Elizabeth Gleadle from the University of British Columbia earned her second consecutive NAIA title in the women's javelin throw. Gleadle connected on a distance of 50.53 meters (165 feet, nine inches) to top her winning effort from a year ago of 49.29 meters (161 feet, eight inches).

Senior Meagan Bauer of Doane College (Neb.) edged Kelsey Aide of Dickinson State University (N.D.) and Rebecca Rospotynski of Malone College for first place in the women's pole vault. All three cleared a height of 3.60 meters (11 feet, 9 ¾ inches), but Bauer's effort came on her first attempt at the height.

On the men's side, senior Jeff Buller captured his second straight NAIA men's javelin title. Buller registered a throw of 65.43 meters (214 feet, eight inches) to get by runner-up Paul Roshau of Concordia University (Ore.), who posted a top throw of 64.89 meters (212 feet, 11 inches).

Aubrey Baxter of Black Hills State University (S.D.) got the national meet off to a rousing start by setting a new NAIA meet record in the women's hammer throw. Baxter's winning toss of 60.57 meters (198-9) edged the old mark of 60 meters set just two years ago by Chukwuemeka. Baxter brought home the Yellow Jackets' first women's individual national title since 2005.

In the women's 10,000-meter run, junior Alissa McKaig of Indiana Institute of Technology shaved more than two seconds off the previous event record. McKaig covered the distance in a time of 34:22.95

Junior Greg Schultz of Concordia University (Ore.) withstood a late challenge from senior Scott VanCura from Hastings College (Neb.) to claim the men's hammer throw crown. Schultz's effort of 63.21 meters (207 feet, four inches) bested VanCura's final throw of 62.45 meters (204 feet, 11 inches).

After the first day of events in the men's decathlon, sophomore Reid Gustavson of British Columbia holds a 96-point lead over junior Jonathan Hilton of Oklahoma Baptist University, with senior David Pichler of Azusa Pacific another 43 points back in third position. Through four events in the women's heptathlon, senior Zora Golcevska from Azusa Pacific leads junior Sable Otey of Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) by 58 points.

Through three events, Concordia (Ore.) leads the men's team standings with 25 points, followed by Bethel College (Kan.) with 13 points. On the women's side, Doane holds a slim 19-16 lead over Azusa Pacific, with Dickinson State and Oregon Institute of Technology tied for third with 15 points.

Friday's action will feature the conclusion of the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon. Individual events start up at 1 p.m. CDT with the finals of the men's shot put and the semifinals of the men's 110-meter hurdles. Friday will also mark Senior Recognition Day at Korte Stadium, where all senior qualifiers to the national meet will be honored in an afternoon ceremony.

RECORDS BROKEN - DAY ONE

Women:

Hammer Throw                   Aubrey Baxter              Black Hills State (S.D.)       60.57m (198-9)

10,000-Meter Run               Alissa McKaig              Indiana Tech                        34:22.95