Tiger track and field team opens indoor season at Nebraska

The Cowley College men's and women's track and field teams opened the indoor season by taking a limited number of athletes to compete at the University of Nebraska Graduate Classic held Friday and Saturday in Lincoln, NE.

The Tiger men were led by returning All-American Diego Andres-Dougan, who finished third in the 60-meter hurdles with a national qualifying time of 8.15. Sophomore Jaden Schneeberger also qualified for nationals in the weight throw with a personal best mark of 55-8 ¼.

The Lady Tigers were led by returning national champion Arantxa Cortez, who placed fifth in the pole vault with a national qualifying mark of 11-9 ¾.

The Tiger coaching staff, consisting of head coach Cameron Rieth and assistant coaches Parker Ray and Glenwood Edwards, were pleased with how the partial squad performed in the opener.

"The team did well, and the energy was high with the small squad we brought," Ray said. "Many of the runners started this year's opener with faster times than they did last year. The throws team also did well, and there are many of them who are close to catching a big throw and punching their ticket to nationals."

The Tiger track and field teams will compete at the Washburn University Rust Buster Saturday at 11 a.m. in Topeka, KS.

"Nebraska was a good learning experience for the freshmen who were able to go," Ray said. "This gave them a taste of what it will take to compete at the Collegiate level."

Results:

MEN

*60-meter hurdles – Diego Andres-Dougan, 8.15, third, national qualifier.

*200-meter dash – Tomasso Bruni, 22.71, 17^th.

*400-meter dash – Charles Barlow, 50.86, 20^th; Siyabonga Jiyane, 51.85, 31^st; Keopekske Nkopone, 52.06, 34^th; Jeremy Garcia, 52.89, 43^rd.

*Mile run – Randy Rojas-Mendez, 4:29.32, 15^th; Dylan Roe, 4:41.87, 20^th.

*3,000-meter run – Muneer Suied, 9:06.50, 21^st; Joel Rodriguez, 9:10.18, 25^th; Basheer Suied, 9:35.53, 30^th.

*Pole vault – Luke Faulkner, 13-9 ¼, 14^th.

*Shot put – Abner Johnson, 47-5 ¼, 18^th.

*Weight throw – Schneeberger, 55-8 ¼, 15^th.

*4x400-meter relay – Nkopane, Jiyane, Garcia, Bruni, 3:24.78, 10^th.

WOMEN

*60-meter hurdles – Lashae' Smith, 9.76, 21^st.

*200-meter dash – Isabella Kupka, 26.83, 25^th.

*400-meter dash – Kupka, 1:01.20, 20^th; Smith, 1:09.52, 47^th.

*3,000-meter run – Andrea Garcia-Gonzalez, 11:30.42, 25^th; Yazmin Reyes, 11:46.96, 26^th.

*Long jump – Abby Rueschhoff, 15-0 ¾, 22^nd.

*Pole vault – Cortez, 11-9 ¾, third, national qualifier.

*Shot put – Jamilet Bautista Infante, 38-6 ¼, 20^th.