ROME, Ga.—Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) captured the National Christian College Athletic Association’s (NCCAA) outdoor track crowns on Sat., May 14, giving the Bison and Lady Bison a sweep of the association’s track and field titles. OBU swept the indoor championships in February.
Blake Bartlett was named Outstanding Performer of the Meet after winning the 100, 200, 4×100 and 4×400—all with meet records.
OBU also won Coaching Staff of the Year for both men and women. That staff includes Head Coach Ford Mastin and Assistant Coaches Matt Kennedy, Mark Heard and Pete Kron.
The Bison won nine events and had the runner-up in four events, and the Lady Bison, who won four events, blew open a close meet late with 26 points in the 400 hurdles and 23 in the 5000 meters.
“What a bunch of great performances we had,” said Mastin. “We just did so well and our depth is a big reason why we won.”
The 4×100 relay team of T.J. Carmichael, Kenneth Combs, Devontrae Young and Bartlett won with a meet and school record at 40.05.
“I was disappointed they didn’t get under 40 seconds because they are really good and this will be their last time to run together,” Mastin said. “I really wanted that for them. There are some countries that don’t go under 40 and we were really close.”
The 4×400 relay team of JyWayne Allen, Combs, Bartlett and Clay Shepperson won in a meet record 3:09.84.
Bartlett won the 100 in 10.22 and the 200 in 20.48 seconds. Young was second in the 200 at 21.28 and Carmichael third at 21.41. Carmichael also was third in the 100 meters at 10.66 seconds.
“Blake should get some strong consideration for the Olympics,” Mastin said. “T.J. ran personal bests in all three of his races. Devontrae has come a long way. He didn’t score in the 5A State Meet last year and now he’s setting records.”
Jordan Patterson won the long jump with a meet record 24-4.5 and was second in the triple jump at 47-00.25.
Allen won the 400 meters in 47.58 seconds, and Shepperson won the 800 meters in 1:53.20. Combs won the 400 hurdles in 53.56 and was second in the 110 high hurdles at 14.12.
The OBU men posted 48 points in the first day of the NCCAA Track and Field Championships for an 11-point lead heading into Saturday. OBU scored 21 points in the pole vault, including a national title for Ryan Womack, who cleared 16-0.75. The men’s 4×800 relay of Jordan Masterson, Thomas Uglean, Sam Smith and Ayoub Akil placed second in 7:38.96.
“The women were just relentless,” Mastin said. “Lacey Herbert (who finished third in the heptathlon) was in the emergency room Wednesday because she was so sick and she came out and competed 14 times in two days.”
Shorter University took a brief three-point lead on the Lady Bison Saturday after the 100 meters, but OBU quickly regained the lead and held it the rest of the way, going 1-2-3-7 in the 400 hurdles and 1-2-5-8 in the 5000. Brenda Barnett won the 400 hurdles in 1:01.51 with Leah Molter in second at 1:02.87.
Abby Hoover won the 5000 in 17:48.72 with Sydney Lawrence getting second at 18:02.30. Emily Sechrist won the 3000 meter steeplechase in 11:13.69.
The 4×400 relay team of Breanna Hurlbut, Abby Mayfield, Kysha Miller and McKae Mitchell was second in 3:49.63. The Lady Bison got 10 points Friday by winning the 4×800 relay. Destinee Allen, Sarah Gilstad, Kelsey Doty and Iman Dumas won the event in 9:05.29, buy almost 10 seconds.
“I really like this atmosphere at the NCCAAs,” Mastin said. “The meet chaplain gathered all the seniors after the meet and had everybody come in around them and just pray for them. You don’t see that too many places. That was a great way to send off our seniors.”
