MARION, Ind. – Following Wednesday's solid start to the NAIA Track and Field National Championships, the UBC Thunderbirds raised the bar even further on Thursday with both the men's and women's teams leading the team scoring race heading into the final day of competition in Marion, Indiana.
In a history making day,
Olivia Lundman won the women's 5000 metre racewalk for the fourth consecutive year while freshman
Lowell Solmes took home the men's racewalk crown as UBC swept the event for the first time in 14 years.
Sonya Urbanowicz won a third straight women's pole vault title, the first time to accomplish the feat in NAIA Championship history while the women's 4x800 metre relay team crushed the competition to win gold for a fourth consecutive year.
All in all, between the point-gaining accomplishments and even more qualifying times for Friday finals on the track, the T-Birds couldn't have had a more impressive second day at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Entering her final national championship meet having broken the all-time NAIA women's racewalk record earlier this season, Lundman was once again full value for her fourth gold medal, clocking in at 22:22.79, bettering her previous championship record set last year by more than 14 seconds.
The T-Birds had three finishers in the top ten of the women's racewalk with freshman
Grace Wong adding another two team points with a seventh place finish in 25:48.36 while fellow rookie
Chantelle Dass finished ninth.
Solmes not only took home the men's racewalk title but did so with a personal best time of 20:43.77, just ahead of teammate
Tyler Wilson who earned NAIA silver for the second straight year. The one-two UBC finish ensured the men's team maximized their point potential to help the squad's goal of ensnaring their first red banner since 2019. The racewalk title sweep marks the first time UBC has done so since current racewalk coach Evan Dunfee and Nicola Evangelista did so in 2011.
Urbanowicz' pole vault victory was her most dramatic yet, requiring a jump-off with the number one ranked Margherita Conrad from Siena Heights. Tied after clearing 3.95 metres, Urbanowicz cleared 4.00 with her only attempt while Conrad wasn't able to match the height.
The women's 4x800 metre gold marked the sixth time the 'Birds have been named NAIA champions in the last seven years, but doing so in each of their last six trips to nationals.
Elysse Fleming,
Sarah MacGillivray,
Rachel Mortimer and
Mackenzie Campbell completed the relay in 8:57.89, more than six seconds ahead of The Master's. For both Mortimer and Holly MacGillivary, it marked the fourth consecutive relay gold.
UBC's men's 4x800 team finished eighth to earn All-American status for
Dylan Uhrich,
Maximilien Filion,
Devon Meadows and
Ryan Goudron. Their time of 7:36.12 also gained what would be a crucial point toward the team standings.
Lyle Lo finished sixth in men's long jump, competing at nationals for the first time in the event. His top jump of 7.36 metres earned the sophomore another three team points while being named an All-American.
Senior
Michelle Dadson threw a clutch personal best of 14.08 metres in women's shot put with her third attempt of the afternoon to clinch seventh place while bettering her own program record set earlier this season.
William Kizell earned a seventh place finish in men's discus for the second straight year. The senior threw 50.21 metres to claim two more team points and finish five places better than his entry ranking.
Rachel Mortimer and
Mackenzie Campbell both qualified for Friday's women's 800 metre final, marking part of a busy day for the two seniors. Campbell won the fourth and final heat with a 2:10.45 while Mortimer will now be able to defend her NAIA 800 title having qualified with a 2:10.00 in a fast opening heat.
Hanna Sobkowich will run her first 400 metre NAIA final after qualifying Thursday with a time of 55.76, winning her heat.
Amelia Pfohl and
Holly MacGillivray each won their respective 5000 metre qualifying heats to advance to Friday's final. Pfohl, who won silver at last year's national championship, ran the fastest time Thursday with a 17:36.64.
Both the T-Birds men and women hold 44 team points heading into the final day of the meet, also the day with the most final events and the most scoring opportunities. The men hold a 10 point gap ahead of Carroll (Mont.), 18 ahead of Marian (Ind.) while the women are 19 points ahead of second place Dickinson State and 25 ahead of Taylor. But with so many points up for grabs Friday, the T-Birds know they'll need to be on their game to have a chance to come home with the hardware they are hoping for.
The final day of competition begins at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT with
Elysse Fleming in the women's 3000 metre steeplechase while
Bryce White kicks things off for the men in the pole vault. A free livestream of the meet is available
HERE.
Complete results, standings and the meet schedule can all be found
HERE.
