FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's indoor track and field team closed out the 2019 portion for their schedule Saturday as they hosted the Strive for Greatness Invitational at Turnstone's Plassman Athletic Center and hit 16 NAIA automatic or provisional qualifying standards.
The Warriors went 1-2-4 in the high jump with
Shomari Somerville and
Dylan Bikim both clearing 2.04m/6-8.25 and hitting the NAIA automatic qualifying standard, with Somerville earning the title.
Kaden Branam cleared 2.01m/6-7 to take fourth while Somerville was second in the triple jump with a mark of 13.86m/45-5.75.
Malik Johnson won the long jump with a mark of 7.23m/23-8.75, out-jumping his closest competitor by 2.50 inches while he also finished atop in the triple jump with a mark of 14.79m/48-6.25.
Daniel Buell improved his mark in the weight throw to 16.71m/54-10 and hitting the NAIA provisional qualifying standard for his first career title before winning the shot put later on with a throw of 14.74m/48-4.5.
Gairy Springer and
Coby Bailey hit the "A" standard in the 60 meter dash with times of 6.84 and 6.86 to finish second and third, while
Anthony Franklin ran a 6.76 in the semifinals to also hit the "A" mark. Springer and Franklin also punched their ticket to the NAIA National Championships in the 200m with automatic qualifying standard times of 21.54 and 21.65 to finish in first and second, respectively.
Jordan Highsmith won the 400m with an NAIA "B" standard time of 48.93 while Chale McLeod was right behind in 49.17 to also hit the provisional qualifying mark.
Zach Daniels hit the "A" standard in the 60m hurdles as he crossed the line in 8.10 to finish second.
Kudzanai Karawira won the 1000m with a time of 2:30.98.
Tech returns to action on January 18, 2020 as they compete in the Mastodon Invitational, hosted by Purdue University Fort Wayne. Meet time is set for 11 a.m. from Lutheran Fieldhouse.
