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TRACK: Blue Dragon men finish 4th at NJCAA Championships
TRACK: Lady Dragons tie for 11th at NJCAA Championships
MEN'S GOLF: HCC men tie for 14th at NJCAA Championships

HCC freshman Andrew Pope was the national runner-up in the pole vault, clearing 15 feet, 11 inches on Saturday at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Gowans Stadium. (Tyler Williams/HCC Sports Information)

Megan Wood (left) celebrates with former Lady Dragon basketball teammates Jade Herl and Kyrsten Crawford after winning third place in the NJCAA Women's Javelin on Saturday at Don Michael Field. (Tyler Williams/HCC Sports Information)

Freshman Jake Brinkman uncorks a school-record throw of 214 feet, 2 inches and finished third in the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at Don Michael Field. (Tyler Williams/HCC Sports Information)

Freshman Cecilia Lane hits the water pit during the NJCAA Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase during Friday's competition at Gowans Stadium.

Freshman Jordan Hecker fired a 2-under-par 70 on the final day of the 2013 NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships in Lubbock, Texas. (Steve Carpenter/HCC Sports Information)

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DRAGONS FINISH 4TH AT NATIONALS; BECHER NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR

Track | 05.18.13

The Hutchinson Community College men’s track and field team has had an impressive outdoor season in 2013. Here is proof.

+ The Blue Dragons won a third-straight Jayhawk West championship.

+ The Blue Dragons captured a second-straight Region VI championship.

+ On Saturday, the Blue Dragons had their best team finish in the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 54 years by placing fourth.

+ Skylar Arneson won a national championship in the hammer throw.

+ Then to top things off on Saturday, veteran coach Pat Becher was named the NJCAA men’s track coach of the year for the third time in his career.

Becher, who hasn’t been with the team for either Region VI or the NJCAA championships, was home watching the videostream on Saturday after suffering a heart attack two weeks ago. His wife, Jan, and daughter Lynsie, as well as the Blue Dragon coaching staff accepted the award on Saturday during the post-meet awards ceremony.

“The guys are performing for coach Becher,” said freshman pole vaulter Andrew Pope, who finishes as the national runner-up on Saturday with the third-highest vault in Blue Dragon history. “It stinks not having him here.”

Hutchinson, the Day 2 team leader, held that lead through 12 events before being overtaking by eventual national champion South Plains. Entering the final race of the Championships, the 4x400 relay, HCC had a one-point lead on Western Texas, which had an entrant in the relay. HCC did not.

Western Texas finished fifth, which was enough to move past Hutchinson, which finished fourth with 49 points. That’s the best national finish for the Blue Dragons since winning the 1959 national championship at old Gowans Stadium.

Pope was the key performer in helping Hutchinson reach its lofty finish on Saturday by clearing 15 feet, 9 inches to finish second behind Mesa’s Pau Tonnesen, who was named the Male Field Athlete of the Meet.

After watching teammate Chris Peters clear 15 feet, 9 inches during the Decathlon on Friday, that motivated Pope on Saturday.

“Chris is a great jumper. It’s nice to have him and Dakota (Becker), Pope said. “They have great form and I struggle with my form on top. Chris going 15-9 yesterday really pumped me up and I was ready to vault today.

“I knew I had a shot at placing, but I didn’t expect second.”

Becker wound up eighth in the pole vault, clearing 14-3 1/4.

The Blue Dragons had one other athlete score on Saturday. Sophomore Courtland Garret finished sixth in the discus with a throw of 163-3, which was the sixth-best throw in team history.

Sophomore Spencer Amerin placed 13th in the high jump going 6-8 on Saturday. Freshman Orbelin Rojas was 14th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:33.49.

(By Steve Carpenter, HCC Sports Information Director)

CHAMPIONSHIP WEB SITE

WOOD CLOSES HCC CAREER WITH THIRD-PLACE NATIONAL SHOWING IN JAVELIN

Track | 05.18.13

Sophomore Megan Wood has become accustomed to the national stage at Hutchinson Community College.

As a freshman, Wood played on the Lady Dragons’ NJCAA national runner-up team in 2012. Deciding to change sports for her sophomore year, the Macksville product closed her Lady Dragon career on the medal stand at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Gowans Stadium.

Wood finished third in the women’s javelin on Saturday morning to help the Lady Dragons to a strong 11th-place showing at nationals this season, tying Cloud County with 26 points.

“It’s different, but both were really exciting,” said Wood, who had several of her basketball teammates looking on Saturday morning.

With her first attempts in preliminaries, Wood uncorked a personal-best throw of 133 feet. She led the competition after the first round of throws and was third heading into finals.

Wood’s throw was the sixth-best women’s javelin throw in HCC team history.

“It was pretty excited when I got it to go,” Wood said. “I hadn’t gotten one to go that good yet this year. I had a goal of 130 feet set and place fifth or higher.”

The Lady Dragon throwers completed an outstanding weekend when freshman Syltrina Rowell finished fourth in the discus. Rowell, the school record holder in the event, threw 132 feet, 3 inches on Saturday.

Freshman Cassie Caswell, who was both sixth in the hammer throw and shot put, finished ninth with a throw of 126-6.

The Lady Dragons closed out the 2013 championships at Gowans Stadium with a pair of runners in the 5,000 meters. Freshman Cecilia Lane ran the fifth-fastest 5,000 meters in team history with a time of 20:03.35 to finish 16th on Saturday. Sophomore Diosha Johnson ran a time of 21:30.10 and placed 29th.

(By Steve Carpenter, HCC Sports Information Director)

CHAMPIONSHIP WEB SITE

BRINKMAN BREAKS JAVELIN RECORD TO LADY HCC MEN AT NATIONALS DAY 2

Track | 05.18.13

Freshman Jake Brinkman broke a 19-year-old school record on Friday at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

While breaking that record, Brinkman also wound up placing third in the nation in the men’s javelin. That performance was just part of a strong Day 2 for the Blue Dragon men.

Hutchinson leads the men’s competition after 8 of 22 events with 37 points, five points better than second-place Iowa Central. The Blue Dragons have seven competitors going on Saturday’s final day of competition, but none advanced out of Friday’s preliminaries.

Brinkman earned All-America honors with his school-record throw of 214 feet, 2 inches. He is one of only seven Blue Dragon throwers to break the 200-foot mark.

“I think anybody who has a little ambition and motivation can come out here, throw it hard and get a medal,” Brinkman said. “Anything can happen. You just have to come out and have a good day – and have one good mark.”

The Jayhawk Conference took the first eight spots in the men’s javelin, led by the Neosho County duo of John Ampomah (235-9) and Emron Gibbs (225-1).

“I don’t know what’s going to happen with the Neosho boys,” Brinkman said. “I know they are all freshmen. It depends on who comes back. It will be interesting to see where they go and what they do.

“Next year, hopefully, I am the guy to beat. I’ll just keep pushing myself.

One day after winning the hammer national championship, sophomore Skylar Arneson tacked on a third-place medal to his national portfolio with a strong effort in the shot put. Arneson went 54 feet, 6 ¾ inches to place third in the event. Arneson has one more event on Saturday, the discus.

Chris Peters and Dakota Becker had strong Friday’s and both finished in the top seven of the Decathlon.

Peters posted the sixth-best point total in Blue Dragon history with 6,253 points to finish fourth, the highest Blue Dragon finish in the Decathlon since Jarid NeSmith was third in 2010.

Peters scored big in the pole vault with a winning clearance of 15 feet, 9 inches, the fourth-highest vault in Blue Dragon history. That was good for 849 points and a move into fourth place. Peters was fourth in the discus (118-7, 587 points), fifth in the javelin (146-10, 511 points), ninth in the 1,500 meters (5:10.51, 501 points) and 12th in the 110-meter hurdles (17.23 seconds, 600 points).

Becker scored 5,667 points to finish seventh. He was fourth in the 1,500 meters (4:58.98, 566 points), fourth in the javelin (147-11, 516 points), ninth in the discus (98 feet, 462 points), 10th in the pole vault (11-1 3/4, 457 points) and 10th in the 110-meter hurdles (17.07, 617 points).

Hutchinson’s 4x800-meter relay team had a strong effort. Strong enough to post the third-fastest time in team history. The relay of Paul Cuellar, Jessie Lyle, Matthew Right and Isaac Williams earned All-America honors with a fourth-place time of 7:45.39.

Despite not making the finals, HCC’s 4x100-meter relay team posted the fifth-fastest time in history in this event with an 11th-place qualifying time of 41.06 seconds. Juan Cubit, Dingell Stickling, Daniel Truelove and Deventer Smith ran the relay for the Blue Dragons.

On Saturday, the Blue Dragons will have Becker and Andrew Pope in the pole vault, Arneson, Brandon Koenigsman and Courtland Garrett in the discus, sophomore Spencer Amerin in the high jump and freshman Orbelin Rojas in the 5,000 meters.

(By Steve Carpenter, HCC Sports Information Director)

CHAMPIONSHIP WEB SITE

LADY DRAGON LANE BATTLES HER WAY ONTO STEEPLECHASE STAND

Track | 05.18.13

Seeded 10th coming into the 2013 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, freshman Cecilia Lane knew she would likely need a PR to find her way from the finish line to the awards stand at the 50-yard line of Gowans Stadium.

Lane’s freshman season at Hutchinson has been one of big performances. Friday was no different as the Andale product knocked out a personal best in the steeplechase and reached the medal stand with a seventh-place finish.

Lane was one of four Lady Dragons to score points for the Lady Dragons on Day 2 of the NJCAA championships on their home track. Hutchinson’s women are tied for seventh place with cloud County with 16 points.

During cross country season, Lane was one of two HCC runners to break the 20-minute mark over the 4K distance for the first time in several years. On Friday, she posted the third-best steeplechase time in school history with a time of 12 minutes, 22.56 seconds.

Sophomore Autumn Iverson and freshman Cassie Caswell continued to rack up points for the Lady Dragon throwers on Friday.

Iverson captured fifth place in the women’s shot put with a top distance of 43 feet, 3 1/4 inch. Caswell jumped on the medal stand for the second time this weekend with a sixth-place showing. Caswell had a personal record with a throw of 42 feet, 11 ½ inches, the fifth-best shot put mark in team history.

Sophomore Paige Stuhlsatz closed out her Lady Dragon career with a fourth-straight pole vault medal. On Saturday, Stuhlsatz cleared 10 feet, 11 ¾ inches to place sixth. Last season, Stuhlsatz with the indoor and outdoor national runner up.

Saturday will be a light day for the Lady Dragons. Sophomore Megan Wood will compete in the javelin. Caswell and Syltrina Rowell will compete in the discus. Lane and Diosha Johnson will run in the 5,000 meters.

(By Steve Carpenter, HCC Sports Information Director)

CHAMPIONSHIP WEB SITE

HECKER FIRES 70 TO LEAD DRAGONS IN FINAL ROUND OF NJCAA TOURNAMENT

Golf | 05.18.13

LUBBOCK, Texas – Freshman Jordan Hecker shot his best round of the spring on Friday and the Hutchinson Community College men’s golf team shot its best round of the 2013 NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Tournament on the final day of competition at The Rawls Course.

Hecker posted a 2-under-round of 70 on Friday, the lowest Blue Dragon score of the final round, which helped the Blue Dragons post a third-straight sub-300 round of the tournament at 294.

The Blue Dragons finished the 2013 Championships tied for 14th with Western Texas College at 1,188. HCC finished three strokes ahead of Region VI champion Dodge City.

PING All-American Michael O’Connor had the best overall finish for the Blue Dragons at nationals, finishing tied for 21st with a 72-hole total of 291 (72-72-70-74).

Sophomore Ben Cotton closed out his stellar Blue Dragon career with a tie for 32nd and a total score of 293 (73-71-74-75).

Hecker’s 2-under round on Friday helped the Hutchinson freshman improve 27 places in the standings. Hecker finished tied for 72nd at 301 (77-77-77-70).

Sophomore Mason Varner tied for 112th at 312 (84-76-75-77). Sophomore Trey Hayden placed 115th at 313 (77-80-81-75).

Central Alabama won a thrilling battle for the team national championship by one stroke over Odessa College. Central Alabama shot a 1,150 to Odessa’s 1,151. Scottsdale was third at 1,155, followed by Jayhawk Conference champion Johnson County at 1,157.

Wallace State’s Axel Olson won the individual national championship, shooting 67 on Friday to force and win a playoff with Meridian’s T.J. Morgan at 281. Olson started the day tied for ninth place.

(HCC Sports Information)

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Volleyball | 05.21.13

LADY DRAGON VOLLEYBALL CAMPS JUNE 12-15

Sophomore Skylar Arneson becomes the second Blue Dragon in three years to win the NJCAA Men's Outdoor National Hammer Throw championship after a school-record throw of 198 feet, 8 inches on Thursday at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. (Tyler Williams/HCC Sports Information)

Track | 05.17.13

ARNESON WINS NJCAA NATIONAL HAMMER TITLE WITH SCHOOL-RECORD THROW

Freshman Cassie Caswell finishes sixth in the women's hammer on Thursday at the 2013 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Kansas State Fairground hammer ring. (Tyler Williams/HCC Sports Information)

Track | 05.17.13

CASWELL, GRIFFIN SCORE IN HAMMER ON DAY 1 OF NJCAA NATIONALS

Sophomore Michael O'Connor cards a 2-under 70 in the third round of the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships on Thursday in Lubbock, Texas. (HCC Sports Information photo)

Golf | 05.17.13

DRAGONS SHOOT SUB-300 IN ROUND 3 AT NJCAAS, 15TH HEADING INTO FINAL ROUND

Track | 05.09.13

NJCAA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP WEB SITE IS LAUNCHED

Track | 05.05.13

BLUE DRAGONS WIN REGION VI TRACK CROWN FOR COACH BECHER

Track | 05.05.13

LADY DRAGONS SEVENTH IN REGION; SECOND IN JAYHAWK WEST

Baseball | 05.05.13

BLUE DRAGON BASEBALL OPENS POSTSEASON AT COFFEYVILLE

Softball | 05.05.13

DAY 1 OF REGION VI SOFTBALL WASHED OUT IN TOPEKA

Track | 04.26.13

NJCAA NATIONAL TRACK INFORMATION PACKET AVAILABLE

Former Blue Dragon All-American Cordarrelle Patterson poses with HCC head football caoch Rion Rhoades while wearing his new Minnesota Vikings hat after Patterson was selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft on Thursday at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. (Photo courtesy head coach Rion Rhoades)

Football | 04.25.13

CORDARRELLE PATTERSON IS DRAFTED BY VIKINGS IN FIRST ROUND OF NFL DRAFT

HCC sophomore Christian Cox was named NJCAA National Player of the Week after hitting .617 for the week and tossing a four-hit shutout against Butler on Sunday at Hobart-Detter Field. (HCC Sports Information photo)

Baseball | 04.25.13

HCC’S COX NAMED NJCAA BASEBALL NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Former Blue Dragon All-American Thad Weber was called up to the San Diego Padres on Saturday, marking his second stint in the Major Leagues in the last two seasons.

Baseball | 04.13.13

FORMER DRAGON ALL-AMERICAN WEBER CALLED UP BY PADRES

Blue Dragon Director of Athletics Randy Stange (right) was given a service award by the NJCAA last week at its national convention.

Athletics | 04.12.13

BLUE DRAGON ATHELTIC DIRECTOR RECEIVES NJCAA SERVICE AWARD

Jade Herl (left) and Briana Starks (right) congratulate sophomore Aja Sorrells (center) after hitting the game-winning shot with 9.4 seconds remaining in the Lady Dragons' 63-61 NJCAA Tournament third-place game victory over Gulf Coast State on Saturday at the Bicentennial Center in Salina. (Stephanie Carpenter/HCC Sports Information)

Basketball - Women | 03.24.13

LADY DRAGONS FINISH WITH THRILLING NJCAA TOURNEY 3RD-PLACE VICTORY