Lillian Buzani, who earned All-American honors this past fall for the Chaps' cross country team, proved her ability is just as solid indoors as she qualified for the NJCAA indoor national championship in the 3,000 meters to highlight the Chaps' day at the Hennan Invite at North Central College on Saturday.
 
Buzani ran the event in 10 minutes, 51.80 seconds, surpassing the qualifying time by nearly two seconds. Her time punched her ticket to the national meet, scheduled for March 4-5 in Pittsburg, Kan.
 
She is the first Chap to earn indoor qualifying honors this season. Head coach Robert Cervenka said a discussion he had with distance coach Michelle Stratton beforehand was prophetic.
 
"Lillian has put in tremendous effort this season, and coach Stratton said it wouldn't be a surprise if Lillian could reach the standard,'' Cervenka said. "Lillian ran a great, smart tactical race and came through with an excellent effort.''

Buzani's time ranks 11th in the most recent TFRRS rankings. Please note: due to running the event on a flat, 200-meter surface, and the NJCAA national meet will be run on a 300-meter banked surface, Buzani's tiime is converted to 10:46.26.
 
Distance runner Shaylinn Aver hit NJCAA D3 outdoor qualifying times in both the 800 (2:40.92) and mile (5:53.59, converted to 1500). Also earning first-time qualifying status were Sierra Batee in the shot put (9.5 m, 31-2) and Alexandra Ochab in the 400 (66.36).
 
Sprinter Kiara Carter scored COD's only point of the meet with an eighth-place time of 26.83 seconds.
 
For the men, pole vaulter Ryan Rinella met the outdoor standard by clearing 3.95 m (12-11 ½). Long jumper Diego Villalobos also qualified with a distance of 6.43 m (21-1 ¼) and placed sixth.
 
Josh Rivers, who already has qualified for the national meet in the 200, long jump and high jump, placed third in the long jump at 6.68 m (21-11) and fifth in the high jump at 1.83 m (6-0).
 
Axel Huerta was eighth in the 3,000 (9:23.37), Max Szul eighth in the 60 hurdles (9.07).
 
The Chaps complete the regular season indoor portion of their schedule Friday afternoon at North Central.
 
Hennan Invite
Saturday, Feb. 12
North Central College
 
Women
60 — Morgan Clifford 9.21
200 — 8. Kiara Carter 26.83 #, Alexandra Ochab 28.93, Morgan Clifford 30.30, Alyssa Gaski 31.18, Belle Adduci 31.30
400 — Alexandra Ochab 66.36 #, Paulina Stachura 66.44 #, Belle Adduci 67.94, Alyssa Gaski 68.95, Morgan Clifford 69.44.
800 — Shaylinn Aver 2:40.92 #, Emilia Kadiyala 2:59.73.
Mile — Shaylinn Aver 5:53.59 #
3000 — Lillian Buzani 10:51.80 @
Pole vault — Mya Mangan 2.75 m (9-0 ¼) #
Shot put — Sierra Batee 9.5 m (31-2) #, Darnyce Springfield 8.1 (26-7)
 
Men
60 — Diego Villalobos 7.27
200 – Josh Rivers 23.56, Max Szul 24.78, Anthony Eddy 25.12, Spensir Stec 25.25, Derek Erdman 25.29, Harry Llobera 25.58, Judah Herring 25.59
400 — Anthony Eddy 54.53, Spensir Stec 54.55, Harry Llobera 56.97, Lochlain Hardin 60.14
800 — Hector Herrera 2:20.34
Mile — Freddy Munoz 4:53.19, Hector Herrera 4:59.63
3000 — 8. Axel Huerta 9:23.37, Caleb DeBoer 9:43.15
60 hurdles — 7. Max Szul 9.07; (preliminaries 9:08)
High jump — 5. Josh Rivers 1.83 m (6-0) #
Pole vault — Ryan Rinella 3.95 m (12-11 ½) #
Long jump — 3. Josh Rivers 6.68 m (21-11) #, 6. Diego Villalobos 6.43 m (21-1 ¼) #, John Sassan 5.95 m ( 19-6 ¼).
Shot put — Kendall Scott-Nellem 9.28 m (30-5 ½)
 
@ — Meet NJCAA Indoor championship standard
# — Met NJCAA Division 3 Outdoor championship standard
 
COD NJCAA indoor qualifers
Women
3,000 – Lillian Buzani

NJCAA D3 outdoor qualifiers
Women
200 — Kiara Carter
400 — Paulina Stachura, Alexandra Ochab
800 — Belle Adduci, Shaylinn Aver
1,500 — Lillian Buzani, Shaylinn Aver
4 x 400 relay — Alexandra Ochab, Belle Adduci, Paulina Stachura, Morgan Clifford
Pole vault — Mya Mangan
Shot put — Sierra Batee

Men
200 — Josh Rivers
Long jump — Josh Rivers, Diego Villalobos
High jump — Josh Rivers
Pole vault — Ryan Rinella

(as of Feb. 14, 2022)