HUTCHINSON, KS - The Tritons fought hard through injuries and weather to make the best of the 2022 outdoor championships. The men's team was led by Yared Kidane of Sweden, who scored eight points with his second place finish in the 1500m final. Kidane ran a time of 3:58.01 in prelims and 3:57.28 in finals. Kidane made an aggressive move with three hundred meters remaining to take a big lead only to be caught at the tape. Teammate Aspel Kiprob was fighting for a spot among the top four during the 25-lap, 10km race with only a mile remaining before having to drop out with lower leg pain.
Aries Scott captured a third place finish in the Decathlon with a score of 6,404 points also tying for third all-time in Triton history. Scott put up personal bests in five of the ten total events. He set career marks in the shot put, high jump, 400 meters, 110 high hurdles and javelin throw. His time of 49.82 in the 400m and 4:42.10 in the 1500m both placed him second among the competition. Scott and teammates Nicola Paletti won the high jump portion of the competition tying with a mark of 2.03 meters. Paletti and Scott finished first and second in the long jump event as well. Paletti had to withdraw during the pole vault due to an injury but not before leaping to a personal best mark of 3.90m (12-9.5") which ranks him fifth in school history.
Hunter Klimek captured an eighth place finish narrowly edging out teammate Robin Aguilar-Gonzalez in the 3000m steeplechase. The duo finished in 9:31.11 and 9:31.14, respectively.
The quartet of Klimek, Cassius Havis, Aguilar-Gonzalez, and Kidane finished eighth in the 4x800m relay with a time of 7:48.40.
James MacKey Jr. duplicated his third-place finish in the Discus event from the 2021 Outdoor Championships. He tossed a personal best mark of 53.37m (175-1). MacKey Jr. is ranked fourth all-time in Triton history. He also finished 10th in the Shot Put competition and 14th in the Hammer Throw.
The women's team was led by Adeyah Brewster of Barbados, who captured a fourth place finish in the 100m hurdles. Her time of 13.94 currently ranks her fifth all-time in Triton history.
Nyadhol Thichiot had a breakthrough day and captured a sixth place finish in the Triple Jump with a mark of 12.12m (39-9.25") which currently ranks her seventh all-time in Triton history.
Taylor McCreedy captured a seventh place finish in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:57.58. The quartet of McCreedy, Shaunti Longfellow, Britney Brown, and Chloe Garcia Grafing captured a fifth place finish in the 4x800m relay with a time of 9:40.88.
This season has been tough with challenging weather, and unexpected injuries. The Tritons will use these championships as fuel and will be back stronger and hungrier next year.
Prior to the championships, athletes Yared Kidane and Aries Scott were honored by the USTFCCCA as the Midwest Region Track and Field Athletes of the Year, respectively.