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Posted: Feb 26, 2024

RedTails Take On Region XL Championships

RedTails Take On Region XL Championships
Photos

The RedTails Men's Track and Field team traveled to Storm Lake, Iowa, to compete in the NJCAA Region 11 Championships hosted by Buena Vista University. Men were just three points shy of NIACC of fourth place, so the RedTails took fifth place behind Division I colleges. The men's team had a fantastic showing in several events.

The highlight of the meet was on Saturday in the high jump. Freshman Nathan McFarland finished fourth place with a national qualifying mark and a school record-tying effort 6'6. Sophomore Matthew Benedict finished in ninth place (6 '0), and freshman Kasey Wirtjes finished in 11th (5' 8).

In the pole vault, sophomore Travis Brace finished in fourth (3.05), his teammates Tyler Bartels finished in ninth (2.30), and Jaxon Weber finished in 10th (2.00). Brace finished in seventh in the heptathlon, battling through a foot injury.

RedTails had a great showing in the throwing events. In the shot put, we had three placers, with freshman Adam Smith in fifth place (14.58), his teammates Tino Tamayo in sixth place (13.26), and Brandt Williams in seventh place (13.08). In the weight throw, Tamayo finished in sixth (16.18m), Williams in seventh (13.47), and teammate Smith finished in 12th(12.29).

In the 600-meter dash, sophomore Kaden Miller finished in fifth (1:27.55) and freshman Anthoneih Kopsa finished in seventh (1:28.88). The RedTails also had a strong showing in the 400-meter dash, with freshman Evan Kearney in sixth (50:52), his teammates Sean Knockel in eighth (52:08), and Caden Stimmel in 17th (54.40). The 4x400m relay group of Knockel, Kearney, Miller, and Kenny Culter finished in fourth place.

Sophomore Noah Sheridan made the finals in the 60-meter hurdles and finished in sixth place (8.69). In the 1000-meter dash, Jess Cornick finished in 12th (2:41.96), and Brennen Sager finished in 13th (2:43.68). 

The RedTails look forward to traveling to the NJCAA Indoor Nationals at the University of Florida from March 1-3, 2024. Then, they look forward to transitioning into the outdoor season.