PITTSBURG — The Bethel College men’s and women’s track teams each placed 10th Friday and Saturday at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Championships at the Plaster Center at Pittsburg State.
Saint Mary won the men’s title with 163 points, followed by Friends at 127.5, McPherson at 111.5, York at 94, Tabor at 66, Southwestern at 63, Bethany at 43, Sterling at 23, Ottawa at 20, Bethel at 13 and Kansas Wesleyan at seven.
Friends won the women’s title with 312 points, followed by Saint Mary at 95, Southwestern at 79, McPherson at 61, York at 41, Sterling at 37, Bethany at 32, Tabor at 32, Ottawa at 26, Bethel at 11 and Oklahoma Wesleyan at eight.
The Bethel men claimed its highest point total at the KCAC indoor meet, while the women had their second-highest point total.
Julio Martinez claimed two medals. Martinez took second in the 1,000-meter run in 2:33.20, breaking the provisional qualifying time of 2:33.80 and 1.2 seconds off the automatic qualifying time. Martinez took fourth in the men’s mile run at 4:23.37, the second fastest time in school history.
“Julio ran two great races," Bethel coach Jeff Hoskisson said. "In the mile the guys knew it would have to be an honest and fast race in order to beat (Isaac) Clark (of Friends). The three of them went after and tried their best to run a faster time but fell just short. He couldn't have run a much better race than he did in the 1,000. You have to tip your hat to Isaac (Clark)."
In the men’s shot put, Kyle Wilson tied for 11th in 12.97 meters (42-6 3/4). Josh Jackson finished 34th in 8.04 meters (26-4 1/2).
Jennifer Andres placed fourth in the finals of the women’s 200-meter dash in 25.71, breaking her own school record and breaking the NAIA national provisional qualifying mark of 25.90. She needs to drop .11 off her time for the automatic national time.
"Jen had her best start all year," Hoskisson said. "She had a slight lead through about 30 meters then realized she was in front and began to tighten up a little. Jen has been running real well all season and this is a good finish for her.
"I was really proud of Kyla for finishing her race. She has been battling a hamstring problem and did a great job of getting to the final on Friday night. We just wanted her to finish in the final."
Andres took fourth in the 60-meter dash finals in 7.95, followed by Kyla Williams in eighth at 8.58.
Lori White finished ninth in the 400-meter dash in 1:03.35, one spot shy of the medal stand.
Gabriele Westrich finished 30th in the shot put at 6.01 meters (19-8 3/4).
Bethel will have one more shot to get more athletes qualified to nationals Saturday in Seward, Neb., at the Concordia Invitational.
The NAIA Nationals are March 1 through 3 at the Plaster Center in Pittsburg.