The defending national champion Chaparral track and field teams made the most of Saturday's Olivet Nazarene Tiger Open meet, earning a number of the nation's top times and distances for both squads.
 
Beginning with the women's team, freshman sprinter Kiara Carter secured the second-best time in NJCAA Division III in the 200, running a personal-best 25.50 seconds with teammate Paulina Stachura also eclipsing the standard at 27.32.
 
The 4 x 100 relay team of Alexandra Ochab, Stachura, Mya Mangan and Carter ran the nation's fastest time this spring in 50.11 seconds.
 
Lillian Buzani holds down the top spot in the 800 after her 2:26.94 effort — an effort she didn't know about until boarding the bus back home, according to assistant coach Michelle Stratton.
 
Buzani now owns the top times in D3 at the 800, 1500 and 5000.
 
"She was shocked she had that time,'' Stratton said. "She's had a very good season and that effort shows her talent.
 
"Overall, we had a very good day. Kiara (Carter) was outstanding and dropped a second in the 200, and ran the anchor on the sprint relay that should among the top in the country this season. Kiara was a no-doubt highlight performance for our team. Her 200 looked like a breakthrough for her and no one was even close in her heat.''
 
In the 400 hurdles, Ochab (1:14.24) and Morgan Clifford (1:14.53) now hold the third and fourth-fastest times in the country, respectively.
 
Earning a first qualifying effort in the pole vault is Akira Lebron, who cleared 7 feet, 8 ½ inches (2.35 m).
 
John Sassan took over the top spot in the country with an impressive 185-foot effort for first place in the javelin. All five of his throws were better than the second-place showing.
 
"No doubt about it, John has put in the time and effort the last seven months and was the highlight for the men,'' Stratton said. "He had a bunch of his teammates from both teams supporting him, which you normally may not see in a field event.''
 
In the long jump, Josh Rivers (6.93 m/22-9) and Diego Villalobos (6.66 m/21-10 ¼) now rank Nos. 1 and 2 in the county after strong efforts. Rivers also shined in the 200 with a fourth-best time of 22.61.
 
Distance runners Caleb DeBoer (36:52.93) and Axel Huerta (11:00.83) were outstanding, qualifying in the 10,000 meters and 3,000 steeplechase, respectively.
 
The 4 x 100 relay team of Sasson, Max Szul, Rivers, and Villalobos ran the nation's fastest time of 43.37.
Szul also ran a personal-best time in the 110 hurdles, running 15.80 seconds into the wind.
 
"The guys had very smooth hand-offs in the 4 x 100,'' Stratton said. "And it was impressive to see Caleb and Axel stepping it up and running well in events they had not competed in. They ran smart races into strong winds.''
 
The Chaps complete their regular season Friday afternoon when they take part in the Elmhurst Invitational that will be run at Wheaton College.
 
Tiger Open
April 23, 2022
Olivet Nazarene, Bourbannais
 Women
200: Kiara Carter 25.50 *, Paulina Stachura 27.32 *
400: Belle Adduci 68.43, Laura De La Torre 71.70
800: Lillian Buzani 2:26.94 *, Alyssa Gaski 2:45.60, Emilia Kadiyala 2:55.82
1500: Lillian Buzani, 5:05.59 * Belle Adduci 5:28.03 *
100 hurdles: Morgan Clifford 21.97
400 hurdles: 7. Alexandra Ochab 1:14.24 *, 8. Morgan Clifford 1:14.53 *
4 x 100 relay: 4) Alexandra Ochab, Paulina Stachura, Mya Mangan, Kiara Carter, 50.11 *
4 x 400 relay: 8. Stachura, Gaski, De La Torre, Kaidyala 4:43.64 *
Long jump: Alexandra Ochab 4.93 m (16-2 ¼) *, Paulina Stachura 4.77 (15-7 ¾) *
Triple jump: Akira Lebron 9.94 m (32-7 ½) *
Pole vault: 5. Mya Mangan 2.95 m (9-8) *, Akira Lebron 2.35 m (7-8 ½) *
Discus: Darnyce Springfield 22.54 (73-11)
Men
200: Josh Rivers 22.61 *, Judah Herring 24.04, Freeman 25.98
400: Judah Herring 53.82, Derek Erdman 55.55
800: Spensir Stec 2:05.34, Sebastian Esparza 2:05.35, Freddy Munoz 2:10.99, Harry Llobera 2:16.62
110 hurdles: 4. Max Szul 15.80 *
400 hurdles: 5. Max Szul 63.34
3,000 steeplechase: 1: Hector Herrera 11:00.83 *
10,000: 3. Caleb DeBoer 36:52.93 *, Hector Herrera 37:43.09
4 x 100 relay: 4. John Sassan, Max Szul, Josh Rivers, Derek Villalobos 43.37 *
4 x 400 relay: Erdman, Esparza, Stec, Eddy, 3:50.90
High jump: 5. Josh Rivers 1.87 m (6-1 ½) *
Long jump: Josh Rivers 3. 6.93 m (22-9) *, Diego Villalobos 6.66 (21-10 ¼) *
Discus: Michael Renc 37.52 m (123-1)
Shot put: Michael Renc 37-10 ¾, Ethan Trimm 39-4 ½
Javelin: 1. John Sassan 56.40 (185-0) *, Alejandro Resendiz 39.23 (128-8)
Hammer: Michael Renc 23.86 m (78-3)
*Met NJCAA D3 qualifying standards

NJCAA Division 3 Qualfiers
Women
100 — Kiara Carter, Alexandra Ochab
200 —  Carter, Paulina Stachura
400 —  Carter,  Stachura,  Ochab
800 — Lillian Buzani, Belle Adduci, Shaylinn Aver
1,500 —  Buzani,  Adduci,  Aver
5000 —  Buzani
100 hurdles —  Morgan Clifford
400 hurdles —  Ochab,  Clifford
4 x 100 relay — Ochab, Stachura, Mangan, Carter
4 x 400 relay —  Ochab,  Adduci,  Stachura,  Clifford
High jump —  Stachura, Akira Lebron
Long jump —  Ochab,  Stachura, Lebron
Triple jump —  Lebron
Pole vault —  Mangan, Lebron
Shot put — Sierra Batee

Men
100 — Diego Villalobos, Josh Rivers
200 — Josh Rivers
800 – Anthony Eddy, Spensir Stec
110 hurdles — Max Szul
3,000 steeplechase — Axel Huerta
5,000 — Huerta, Caleb DeBoer
10,000 — DeBoer
4 x 100 relay — John Sassan, Szul, Rivers, Villalobos
Long jump —  Rivers,  Villalobos,  Sassan
Triple jump —  Villalobos
High jump —  Rivers
Javelin —  Sassan
Pole vault — Ryan Rinella

(as of April 24, 2022)