Posted: Apr 24, 2022
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Trinity University won the program's 13th SCAC Men's Track and Field Championship and second straight by claiming the 2022 title Sunday afternoon on its home track at Trinity University Stadium. Official Website | Complete Results | Team Scores | Day Two Photos
Texas Lutheran University junior Caimen McDonough, who led his team to a runner-up finish, took first place in the triple jump, posted a second-place finish in the 400 hurdles, a pair of third-place finishes in the high jump and long jump, and added a fourth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles, earned 34 points and was named the 2022 SCAC Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Meet.
Four men's championship records were broken by SCAC student-athletes with new standards set in the hammer throw, long jump, 800 meters and 4x100 relay.
COMPLETE STANDINGS
1. Trinity - 225
2. Texas Lutheran - 204
3. Colorado College - 95
4. St. Thomas - 41
5. Southwestern - 31
6. Centenary - 18
7. Schreiner - 5
8. Dallas - 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trinity junior Ben Whittemore, who was runner-up in the event last year, took top honors in Sunday's first race, the 5000 meters, finishing in a time of 15:36.33 (watch post race interview). A pair of first-year Colorado College runners finished 2-3 to wrap up the all-SCAC performances in the event as Walt Jones crossed in 15:40.66 and Brett Kitazono finished in 15:42.50.
- Gerrit Twitero of Texas Lutheran (watch post event interview) started Sunday's field events off with a victory in the high jump as the sophomore took home gold by clearing 1.97 meters (6' 5 1/2"). St. Thomas freshman Matthew Hicks finished second, clearing 1.92 meters (6' 3 1/2") and the defending champion in the event, junior Caimen McDonough of TLU, was third with a clearnace of 1.87 meters (6' 1 1/2").
- In the discus event, TLU sophomore Scottie Reyes (watch post event interview) defended his title with a winning toss of 46.34 meters (152' 0"). His teammate, sophomore Chase Cook, was second with a heave of 42.93 meters (140' 10"), and Trinity senior Robert Slaybaugh finished third with a toss of 42.72 meters (140' 2").
- TLU's McDonough followed up his bronze in the high jump with a gold medal in the triple jump as the junior bounded out to 14.00 meters (45' 11 1/4") on his final attempt. Trinity sophomore Justin Johnson, last year's champion, finished as runner-up with a leap of 13.93 meters (45' 8 1/2"). Junior Ezrael Powell of Texas Lutheran was third with a jump of 13.30 meters (43' 7 3/4").
- Sophomore Weston Geiger of Texas Lutheran (watch post event interview) gave the Bulldogs their fifth individual winner in the last six years in the javelin with a toss of 53.66 meters (176' 0"). The streak includes a win by his older brother Ryan in 2019. Trinity throwers took the second and third place slots, as junior Cooper Tyler and first-year Pierce Jackson got off tosses of 52.76 meters (173' 1") and 45.05 meters (147' 10"), respectively.
- The afternoon track events got off with a bang for Trinity as the Tiger men produced a podium sweep in the 110 meter hurdles, with Justin Johnson taking gold in a finishing time of 15.37. The sophomore was the runner-up in the event a year ago. Sophomore Jalen Leonce placed second with a time of 15.49 and junior Kyle Anderson was third in 15.65. It was the first time since 2018 (Texas Lutheran) that one school has swept the three podium positions.
- Trinity's Sean Majors earned his second gold of the meet with a victory in the 400 meters, as the senior broke the tape in 48.11, the fourth-fastest time in SCAC championship meet history. He had finished as runner-up in the event last year. Centenary freshman DeVante' Jack took the runner-up nod at this year's event, running a 48.68 in the first of five timed heats with just one other runner. Sophomore Bryce McIntyre of St. Thomas took third with a finishing time of 49.21.
- First-year Elijah Jefferson of Texas Lutheran (watch post race interview) completed the 100/200 sweep, picking up gold in the 100 with a winning time of 10.72 - the fifth-fastest time in SCAC championship meet history. He is the third man since 2010 to win both the 100 and 200 at the same conference championship meet and the only freshman of the three. First-year BJ Stewart of Trinity was second in 10.80 and TLU junior Ezra Powell was third in 10.95.
- In the final individual race of the meet, Colorado College senior Josh Fry (watch post race interview) defended his title in the 1500 meters, crossing the line in 3:54.69, the second-fastest time in SCAC championship meet history. He is also the first CC man to repeat in the event. Taking second place was Trinity first-year Will Salony in 3:56.10 and Colorado College senior Sam Rodriguez, last year's runner-up, was third in 3:58.59.
- With the meet in hand, the Trinity 4x400 team of Majors, Johnson as well as sophomore Josue Parra and junior Ethan Gilmore let it all hang out, hitting the tape at 3:17.46, the second-fastest finish in SCAC championship meet history and third straight win in the event for the program. The Tigers were just .11 shy of breaking the record established by the 2019 Trinity team. St. Thomas finished second in 3:20.76, the fifth-fastest time in SCAC championship history, and Texas Lutheran was third in 3:27.89.
