DRAGONS EARN 7 NATIONAL QUALIFIERS ON OPENING DAY
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College men's track and field team had six athletes earn a total of seven national qualifications in the 2018 indoor season opener on Saturday at the Highland Challenge.
Freshman Richard Newman led the way by qualifying for the NJCAA Indoor Championships in two events and posting the top high jump in the nation so far this season.
Newman cleared 6 feet, 10 3/4 inches, a national qualifying mark, to win the men's high jump. He became just the seventh Blue Dragon in indoor team history to clear at least 6-10 with the fifth-best high jump in Blue Dragon history. Newman then won the long jump with a national qualifying mark of 23 feet, 3 1/2 inches.
Two Blue Dragon sprinters punched their tickets to nationals. Sophomore Kadrin Williams and freshman Devon Henderson went 1-2 in the 55-meter finals. Williams and Henderson both ran 6.36 seconds in the finals. Williams ran 6.35 seconds in the preliminaries. Converting their times to 60 meters, both runners broke the national qualifying standard.
Henderson's converted 60-meter time of 6.84 seconds is the eighth fastest in team history. Williams is already No. 3 on the Hutch 60-meter chart.
Two Blue Dragon hurdlers earned spots for the indoor nationals by going 1-2 in the 55-meter hurdles. Sophomore Jeffrey Muiruri won the event in 7.33 seconds. Freshman Tre'jaun Cash was second in 7.34 seconds. His converted time to 60-meters is No. 5 on the Blue Dragon career chart at 8.34 seconds. Muiruri is already No. 2 on the career chart.
Hutchinson's seventh qualifier by winning the 35-pound weight throw. He won the event at 52-2, which is No. 8 on the Blue Dragon career chart.
The Blue Dragons won 11 individual events on Saturday.
Elijah Smith won the 500 meters in 1:07.48. His converted time to 600 meters (1:23.06) is seventh best in team history.
Freshman Alex Grays won the 200 meters in 22.79 seconds.
Freshman Jason Luft won the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:45.73.
Freshman Jaren Stark won the 3,000 meters in 9:37.99.
Freshman Garet Johnson won the shot put with a top throw of 46 feet, 0 3/4 inches.
The Blue Dragons next compete at the KC Night Relays on Friday in Overland Park.