DAY ONE RECAP

MARION, Ind. - Grace's track and field team wrapped up a successful showing at the 2024 Crossroads League Championships on Friday.

The Lancers set a new school record, hit multiple NAIA standards and won three events on the final day of the meet.

The men's team placed fourth overall with 87 points, and the women finished fifth with 98.5 points.

Dimitri Margaritidis won the 1,500-meter title, beating out the second-place competitor by over a second. His time of 3:52.19 was an NAIA "A" standard.

Kylie Sauder won the 800, breaking the tape in an "A" time of 2:12.21.

Josiah Thompson was the final event winner for Grace. He launched the javelin 184-feet-10 to hit an NAIA "B" mark.

Grace finished 1-2-5-7 in the javelin as Ethan Brown finished second with an All-League heave of 167-0. Brock Lengacher (fifth) and Clayton Martin (seventh) wrapped up an impressive javelin display for the Lancers.

The women's javelin was also fruitful for Grace as Mackenzie Parker placed third to grab All-League honors (111-0).

Gracious O'Connor ran a fast 24.93 in the 200 finals, earning second place and an All-League finish. Zoe Huley was eighth in the same race (25.92).

Grace's relay units impressed on Saturday as well. The women's 4x400 squad set a school record and hit the NAIA "A" standard. Huley, Olivia Adkins, O'Connor and Sauder placed second at 3:53.43.

The men's 4x100 relay team of Ethan Cummins, Bryce King, Daniel Stoll and Mick Wright placed fourth at 42.43.

The women's 4x100 counterparts of Madelyn Yoder, O'Connor, Huley and Shannon Farnsworth ended in fifth (48.82).

Grace had two ladies place in the 1,500, including Tara Friesen in fourth (4:44.09) and Addison Grady in eighth (4:50.89). Morgan Welch was one spot behind Grady in ninth.

The women also had two top-eight finishes in the 400; Adkins earned fourth place at 59.10, and Paula Fernandez was sixth at 59.52.

Makayla Neal grabbed fourth place in the heptathlon with 3,432 points. Emma Conrad ended in fifth in the 100 hurdles (15.42).

Anna Hulstedt produced a fifth-place finish in the 800 at 2:15.88, which hit the NAIA "B" standard. Logan Rufenacht did the same in the men's 800, hitting the "B" standard and placing fifth (1:52.60).

Brandon Kleber grabbed fourth in the 5,000 (14:54.42), and Brock Lengacher was fifth in the hammer (160-8).

Noah Zimmerman was fifth in the triple jump (42-4), and Mick Wright ended in seventh in the 200 with a time of 22.22.

Grace had several athletes place eighth to earn a point, including Katie Acker in the steeplechase (11:50.93), Cummins in the 100 dash (11.10), Karris Sigler in the 400 hurdles (1:10.20), and Breanna Hyde in the triple jump (32-10.5).

The Lancers' postseason will continue next week at the 2024 NCCAA National Championships, held in Greenville, S.C., from Wednesday to Friday.

MEET RESULTS