Eight McPherson Bulldogs came away from the Friends Invitational on Saturday with new season bests, topped by Seth Cavenee’s provisional national meet qualifying time of 10.83 in the 100 meter dash.
“Our srpinters are kind of banged up, but overall, our kids performed pretty well,” said McPherson head coach Bart Gray. “Seth (Cavenee) really had a good meet, and Beth (Krehbiel) and Rebecca (Stover) ran well for their first time out this season.”
“Our throwers are showing signs of getting better. At times, they kind of struggle, but then they put it together and get a decent throw. They’re young, and all of us (coaches and throwers) have to be patience. It isn’t all going to fit together over night.”
The McPherson men placed in nine of ten events entered, while the women placed in six of eleven events.
Because of pre-meet seeding that was not altered prior to the beginning of competition after scratches were indicated resulted in Cavenee being placed in the next to the last heat of the 100 meters, and therefore not having an opportunity to race against the other sprints with the top eight qualifying time. Still, the sophomore from Tribune placed third in a season best and provisional qualifying time of 10.83. That mark leaves him 0.10 second off of the automatic national qualifier. Cavenee later came back to finish fourth in the 200 meters in another season best of 22.35, then anchored the Bulldogs’ 4 x 400 meter relay to a fifth place finish in a third season best.
“Seth ran a personal, career best in both the 100 and 200. He just keeps getting better, week by week.”
Preston Taylor, nursing an aching hamstring, finished fourth in the 400 meters in a time of 51.06, even after relaxing and easing up 35 meters from the finish, a move that likely cost him a medal.
Tim Cox found himself in the same position in the 800 meters that Cavenee did in the 100 when he didn’t get the opportunity to go head-to-head with the top entrants. Forced to take the pacing duties for the first 400 meters, Cox let the field move past him at the bell indicating the start of the final lap, then with 300 meters to go, kicked it in to high gear, swept around the field and pulled away to a 2:01.64 finish, good for sixth place in the timed section final. Cox, later teamed Troy Hernandez, who set a season best in the 1500 meters (4:25.12), Preston Taylor, and Cavenee as they cruised to a season best 3:32.90 and a fifth place finish in the 4 x 400 relay.
“We told the guys to just cruise through it, no pulled muscles, nothing fancy,” said Gray. “We just wanted to use this as a workout.”
Bryan Grosbach got his first taste of the steeplechase with his barriers and water jump, and finished fourth in 11:39.69.
The Bulldogs’ top field event finish came from Dan Hudachek with his fifth place in the discus. Val Thompson placed seventh in the hammer throw while Eddie Chavez was eighth in the shot put. Scotty Phillips posted season bests in both the shot and hammer throws.
Beth Krehbiel posted the Lady Bulldogs’ top finish in her first competition of the season as she placed third in the 400 meter hurdles. Krehbiel also placed eighth in the high jump.
Geralyn Hale stamped herself as a contender for a KCAC medal with her fifth place finish in the 100 and eighth in the 200.
Also competing for the first time in 2004, Rebecca Stover placed sixth in the 400 meters in a time of 1:07.28.
Kelsey Hendricks threw a season best 35-5 in the shot to place eighth oveall and fourth among KCAC competitors. While not placing, Sheila Bevan and Katie Atwater set season bests in the shot and discus, respectively.
This week the Bulldogs will travel to North Newton for the annual ACCK Championships, the first of two peaking meets for the majority of the squad. Field events will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the Bethel College campus.
Complete McPherson results:
MEN —
100m Dash – 3. Seth Cavenee 10.83SB/PNQ; America Patton 11.35SB; Val Thompson 12.44
200m Dash – 4. Seth Cavenee 22.35SB; America Patton 23.62
400m Dash – 4. Preston Taylor 51.06
800m Run – 6. Tim Cox 2:01.64; Bryan Grosbach 2:16.39
1500m Run – Troy Hernandez 4:25.12SB
3000m Steeplechase – 4. Bryan Grosbach 11:39.69
4 x 400m Relay – 5. 3:32.09SB (Preston Taylor, Troy Hernandez, Tim Cox, Seth Cavenee)
Shot Put – 8. Eddie Chavez 40-10; Hayden Owen 33-10.25; Justin Ratliff 32-3; Val Thompson 32-1.25; Scotty Phillips 29-0.75SB
Discus Throw – 5. Dan Hudachek 124-2; Freddie Nails 111-10; Eddie Chavez 111-9
Hammer Throw – 7. Val Thompson 108-0; Dan Hudachek 104-0; Scotty Phillips 98-0SB; Hayden Owen 81-0
WOMEN –
100m Dash – 5. Geralyn Hale 13.14; Laura Engquist 14.94
200m Dash – 8. Geralyn Hale 28.05SB
400m Dash – 6. Rebecca Stover 1:07.28
800m Run – Mandi Shobe 3:09.77
1500m Run – Mandi Shobe 6:19.42
5000m Run – Bethany Lohmeyer 25:11.58SB
400m Hurdles – 3. Beth Krehbiel 1:14.73
High Jump – 8. Beth Krehbiel 4-6
Shot Put – 8. Kelsey Hendricks 35-5SB; Sheila Bevan 30-9SB
Discus Throw – Katie Atwater 104-2SB
Hammer Throw – Katie Atwater 89-0