UCM Jennies Win NCAA Division II Track & Field Championship

ALLENDALE, Mich. - For the second time this season the Central Missouri Jennies are on top of the track and field world. They won their first ever outdoor NCAA Division II National Championship after winning their first indoor championship back in March. The Jens scored 59 points on their way to the team title and crowed three individual National Champions and nine All-Americans.

The Mules track team also had a successful weekend. They finished tied for 11th place overall with 23 points and saw Caniggia Raynor win his first ever National Championship and had five All-Americans.

Unlike the indoor championships, the Jennies jumped out to a large lead and had to hold on as the competition closed the gap on their lead.

MIAA foe Lincoln was the biggest threat to UCM as they scored 50 points on the strength of the sprinters giving the Blue Tigers a chance to win the meet in the final event, the 4x400m relay. Lincoln was in the lead after the first leg, but a dropped baton was the Jennies good fortune as the Blue Tigers couldn't make up for the error giving the Jennies the national title.

Freshman Erika Kinsey scored 23 of the JennIes 59 points by winning the high jump and coming in second place in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump. With her two indoor championships this seasons she now has three career championships and six All-American awards.

Junior Heavin Warner successfully defended her national title in the hammer throw. She threw 211-01 in the hammer throw to win her second career title and fifth All-American award.

Sophomore Brittany Kallenberger was the Jennies third National Champion. She took the crown in the pole vault jumping 13-1.5 in her first ever outdoor National Championship.

Madison Smith and Zoe Sharplin both finished their careers with a pair of All-American awards. They placed third and sixth in the heptathlon respectively. Smith scored a personal-best 5290 and Sharplin scored 5183 points. For Smith she leaves UCM with seven All-American awards while Sharplin is a three time All-American in the heptathlon.

Also in the throws, senior Brooke Swearingin won her third All-American award in the discus. She placed sixth with a throw of 162-06.

Senior Megan Glamann running in her first ever NCAA meet finished in 5th place in the 10,000m run. She set a new personal-best running 34:54.32, ending her UCM career with her first ever All-American award.

For the Mules, Raynor was a two-time All-American and was crowned National Champion in the discus. He used a throw of 196-01 on his final attempt to win the title. Raynor also placed sixth in the hammer throw with a throw of 203-07.

The Mules 4x400m relay team finished in fifth place in the indoor championships and did the same outdoors. The squad of Omari McDonald, Jacob Randle, Osvaldo Granillo and Kellin Loch ran a 3:10.36 to be named All-Americans.

Blake Seitz set a new PR in the decathlon, scoring 7018 points to place sixth and win his second career All-American award and first ever outdoors.

The Mules final All-American was Cole Phillips who finished seventh in the pole vault. He jumped 16-6.75 competing in his first ever outdoor championships.

The Mules 11th place finish was their highest since they took eighth place in 2011.

(Courtesy of UCM)