SPC Men Win National Indoor Track Title

LUBBOCK – The South Plains College men's track team won the NJCAA National Indoor Track and Field championship Saturday at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

South Plains finished with 148.5 points, easily outdistancing second-place Rend Lake College, who had 72 points. Johnson County was third with 68.5 and Cloud County was fourth with 60.

SPC's John Kosgei won three national championships. He finished first in the men's one mile run with a time of 4:10.35, he finished first in the men's 3000 meter run with a time of 8:23.73, he finished first in the men's 5000 meter run with a time of 14:37.46.

Also winning individual national titles for SPC were Patrick Lee in the men's 60 meter hurdles (7.94 seconds), Derrick Taylor in the men's pole vault (15 feet, 1 1/2 inches), Derrick Reescano in the men's triple jump (49 feet, 10 inches) and Tyler Menges in the men's shot put (53 feet, 1 3/4 inches).

The South Plains College Lady Texans finished second with 102.5 points behind Essex College, who had 138. Cowley County placed third with 95 points.The Lady Texans did win several national individual titles.

Asiya Iskakova finished first in the women's penathlon with 3562 points. Iskakova was also first in the women's triple jump (40 feet). Dominique Jacobs was first in the women's long jump (19 feet, 7 inches).

SPC also had several other outstanding performances.

In the men's long jump, Derrick Reescano was second (23 feet, 9 inches) and Aaron Smith III was fifth (23 feet, 3 1/4 inches). In the men's 600 meter run, Harold Jackson finished second (1:18.02). In the men's 800 meter run, Chris Jones placed second (1:53.53). In the men's triple jump, O'Brian Coles was second (49 feet, 1 1/2 inches) and Aaron Smith II was sixth (47 feet, 6 1/2 inches). In the men's 4x400 meter relay, the SPC team placed second (3:12.97). In the women's pentathlon, Danete Wright finished second with 3361 points. In the women's 200 meter dash, Renee Shepard was second (24.42) and October Wells was fourth (24.99). In the women's triple jump, Dominique Jacobs was second (39 feet, 10 1/2 inches) and Karen Thomas was fourth (38 feet, 6 3/4 inches). In the women's long jump, Asiya Iskakova finished second (18 feet, 7 inches).

In the women's 5000 meter run, Lillian Badaru placed third (17:59.18). In the men's distance medley, the SPC team of T.K. Revis, Chris Jones, Joshua Katam and Jay Wilson placed fourth with a time of 11:14.55. In the men's pentathlon, Derrick Taylor finished fourth (3478 points). In the men's high jump, Darrell Roddick was fourth (6 feet, 10 3/4 inches), Marlon Smith was sixth (6 feet, 8 3/4 inches) and Kendrick Poullard was seventh (6 feet, 8 3/4 inches). In the women's 4x400 meter relay, the SPC team placed third (3:54.63).

In the women's high jump, Asiya Iskakova was fifth (5 feet, 3 inches) and Danete Wright was sixth (5 feet, 1 inch). In the women's 60 meter dash, Renee Shepard was fifth (7.23). In the women's 400 meter dash, Crystal Wilson was fifth (58.00) and Alba Knight was eighth (59.26). In the womens' 60 meter hurdles, Danete Wright was fifth (9.05).

In the men's pole vault, Bradley Tatum was sixth (14 feet, 1 3/4 inches). In the men's 5000 meter run, Josphat Melly was seventh (15:47.03). In the men's 3000 meter run, Jay Wilson placed seventh (2:35.47). In the men's 4x800 meter relay, the SPC team placed seventh (8:00.69).

In the men's one mile run, Josphat Melly was 11th (4:26.57). In the men's 3000 meter run, Josphat Melly finished 12th (9:14.89). In the men's weight throw, Chris Johnson placed 13th (48 feet, 4 3/4 inches).

SPC's Derrick Reescano and Asiya Iskakova were both named Outstanding Field Event Athletes of the Meet.