The defending national champion College of DuPage men's track and field squad competed in two meets this past weekend. Sprinters and field athletes traveled to St. Louis, Missouri for the SLU Speed & Power Festival, while distance runners stayed local for the NCC Distance Fling at North Central College in Naperville. The weekend was packed with personal records and national qualifying performances.
Pole vaulter William Kallas continued his strong momentum from the indoor season, setting a meet record at SLU with a vault of 4.95 meters to earn first place. Kallas also ran on the men's 4x400 relay team, which currently ranks sixth nationally, capping an impressive outdoor debut for the sophomore.
Jaylin Miller also had a strong showing in St. Louis, finishing second in the men's 100-meter dash with a time of 10.91. The performance ranks him second in NJCAA Division III. Miller added a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.22 seconds, which currently ranks first in the nation in Division III.
Royce Krush qualified in the open 400 meters with a time of 50.75 and currently ranks third in the division. He also contributed to the qualifying 4x400 relay team.
In Naperville, Kevin Diederich ran a season-best 5,000 meters at North Central, finishing in 15:34.93. The time ranks third in the division.
Brendan Spahn (10:49.76) and Zakary Kahsen (10:49.76) each qualified in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and are currently ranked second and third, respectively.
Peter Ogunleye won the SLU meet in the long jump with a mark of 6.52 meters.
Tayo Taiwo (46.53 meters) and John Tarpeh (46.52 meters) both recorded personal bests in the hammer throw, ranking first and second in the division.
Additional national qualifiers included Eric Stephens, who ran 11.51 in the 100 meters, and Kevin Myrick, who posted an 11.33 in the same event. Hassel Colula also qualified in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.72, placing fifth.
Head coach Mallory Dominguez on the team's performance:
"We are proud of their efforts and look forward to our next opportunity."
