GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— Shaya Chenoweth and
Justin Thompson recorded clutch jumps to sweep the long jump events while
Lindsay Parsons ran a stellar 10,000-meter race to lead the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks on the opening afternoon and early evening of the Maverick Classic on Friday here at the CMU Track & Field Complex.
Thompson, the school-record holder, recorded a leap of 7.27 meters (23 feet, 10 ¼ inches) on his final attempt to win the men's long jump with a NCAA Division II Championship provisional qualifying distance.
Parsons also posted a provisional qualifying time of 36 minutes, 41.46 seconds to finish fourth in the 10,000 meters to move up two spots to second on the Mavericks' all-time performance list while shaving more than four minutes off her former personal best. Her flat time was less than five seconds off the NCAA Division II Championship qualifying standard of 36:36.59 but will be well under that with the altitude adjustment.
Meanwhile, Chenoweth delivered a career-best leap of 5.78 meters (18-11.75) to take the women's long jump. She recorded that mark on her third attempt in the preliminary round after fouling on her first two attempts moving from out of the final and into the lead and eventual win in one fell swoop. She improved up on her No. 3 position in Maverick history with her mark.
Several other Mavericks also shined, many in their overall or outdoor collegiate debuts.
In the women's javelin, pentathlon all-American
Mica Jenrette recorded a toss of 33.07 meters (108-6) to finish second and move up two spots to eighth in program history.
Josie Coffey also claimed a top-5 finish, taking fifth at 31.02 meters (101-9).
Maverick redshirt freshman
Dallas Davis III then took fourth in the men's portion of the discipline with a mark of 51.21 meters (168-0) on his second collegiate throw. The Pueblo, Colorado native now ranks sixth in program history and is within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's top five.
Elsewhere,
Hayden Riley took third in the men's discus throw with a mark of 49.90 meters (163-8), just four inches off Marshall McKown's 3-year old school record of 49.98 meters (164-0). Riley had come into the season-opener ranked fifth in Maverick history. Redshirt freshman
Jameson Moore also moved into the Mavericks' all-time top ten with a ninth place effort of 45.47 meters (149-20). He now ranks seventh in program history.
Women's freshman
Heather Yackey also had a strong season-opening performance. She finished third in the discus throw at 40.90 meters moving into fourth on the Mavericks' all-time performers' list after her first outdoor competition.
Freshman
Becker Ell also moved into the No. 4 position in the men's pole vault after clearing 4.45 meters in his outdoor debut. He placed eighth on the day.
Nathan Sanches then improved upon his No. 6 position on the Mavs' 10K list with a time of 32:12.69, good for 13
th place amongst a field of 24 starters. He had a career-best of 32:19.30 last season at home last season.
Only nine of the meet's 40 events were contested on Friday while the rest will be held on Saturday. Action begins in the field at 10 a.m. with the women's hammer throw. The 5,000 meter runs will kick-off the track-event action a half-hour later.
