Twelve Saints Men Will Compete at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championship
KANSAS CITY, MO. – The official final rosters and entry lists for all qualifiers for the 59th Annual NAIA Men's Indoor Track and Field National Championship have been announced. A historic 12 Saints will compete in the championship - the most ever for Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU).
Qualifiers by event CLICK HERE. Qualifiers by school CLICK HERE.
Event Schedule CLICK HERE.
Jalen Bell, Richard Davis, Joseph Gonzalez, JoseCarlos Hernandez, Houston Ifah, De'Jon Lewis, Ethan Navarro, Anthony Perez, Jose Perez, Hendrick Ramirez, Cerrone Thompson, Julian Verastegui of OLLU have qualified for the championship hosted by Dakota State University at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D., Feb. 29-March 2.
Jalen Bell will run the 200m. His qualifying time was 21.65, which was set at the New Mexico University Collegiate Classic, Feb. 2-3, in Albuquerque, N.M. He is ranked 20th in a slate of 46 runners. The 200m prelims will take place on March 1 at 5 p.m. The finals will take place March 2 at 3:25 p.m.
De'Jon Lewis will participate in the Triple Jump. His qualifying mark was 14.45m, which he set at the Crimson & Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, Kan., on Dec. 9. He is ranked 18th in a slate of 33 jumpers. The Triple Jump prelims and final will take place on March 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Hendrick Ramirez will run the Mile. His qualifying time was 4:12.73, which he set at the Crimson & Gold Invitational. He is ranked ninth in a slate of 50 runners. The Mile prelims will take place on March 1 at 12:20 p.m. The finals will take place on March 2 at 12:35 p.m.
Cerrone Thompson will run the 400m. His qualifying time was 48.75, which he set at the New Mexico Classic. He is ranked 23rd in a slate of 45 runners. The 400m prelims will take place on March 1 at 1:25 p.m. The finals will take place on March 2 at 1:15 p.m.
Qualifiers in the 4x400m Relay are Jalen Bell (leg 3), Richard Davis (leg 2), Houston Ifah (leg 5), Ethan Navarro (leg 6), Cerrone Thompson (leg 4) and Julian Verastegui (leg 1). The team's qualifying time was 3:15.17, which was set at the New Mexico Classic. The team is ranked seventh in a slate of 27 teams. The 1600m Relay prelims will take place Feb. 29 at 5 p.m. The finals will take place March 2 at 5:15 p.m.
Qualifiers in the 4000m Distance Medley Relay (DMR) are Joseph Gonzalez (leg 3), JoseCarlos Hernandez (leg 1), Houston Ifah (leg 2), Ethan Navarro (leg 5), Anthony Perez (leg 4), Jose Perez (leg 6) and Hendrick Ramirez (leg 7). The team's qualifying time was 10:05.88, which was set at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, Mass, on Feb. 26-27. The team is ranked 10th in a slate of 28 teams. The DMR prelims will take place on Feb. 29 at 6 p.m. The finals will take place March 2 at 4:40 p.m.
In previous years, Jose Zarate qualified for nationals in the 3000m in 2022, and last season, Zarate qualified in the 5000m, Tr'Darius Taylor in the 60m and Ian Lee Heung in the Triple Jump.
