Parker, Pfadenhauer lead Duhawks to women’s victory, with dramatic conclusion in men’s 4x400 relay resulting in co-champions for the third time in meet history; Parker, Phillip continue distance dominance following cross country titles

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Kassie Parker reminded the rest of the female distance runners competing Friday and Saturday at JDL Fast Track why she is one of the best competitors in NCAA Division 3 history.

But even with her two individual titles in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, along with her anchor leg on the runner-up distance medley, Parker still needed plenty of support in order for Loras to capture its first women’s indoor team title in Winston-Salem, N.C.

PHOTOS BY NATASHA SWANSON

Alyssa Pfadenhauer won the 400-meter title and anchored the victorious 4x400 relay for Loras, which accumulated 59 points to secure the championship, with Wisconsin-La Crosse finishing runner-up with 44 points.

The final outcome of the men’s championship was one of the most dramatic in history, with several different scenarios unfolding following the conclusion of the 4x400 relay, including multiple potential disqualifications and a pair of protests that ultimately led to the results being restored, with Washington University and Wisconsin-Eau Claire tying for the team title with 35 points apiece.

Washington trailed entering the 4x400, but finished second in 3:16.79 behind Rowan (3:16.56), with Wisconsin-Eau Claire finishing fourth (3:17.49) to produce overall co-champions for the third time in meet history, along with 2009 and 2017.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire secured its third men’s title, following back-to-back crowns in 2015-16, with Washington capturing its first championship.

Alex Phillip of John Carroll matched the individual success of fellow Division 3 cross country champion Parker by doubling in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters.

Phillip held off mile champion Aidan Ryan of Williams by an 8:16.62 to 8:17.09 margin in the 3,000, and prevailed in 14:10.02 in the 5,000, with Michael Obroin of Carnegie Mellon placing second in 14:16.30.

Ryan triumphed in the mile in 4:05.60 and Redlands’ Tucker Cargile clocked 4:07.02 to finish second.

Washington picked up victories in the distance medley relay by a 9:54.26 to 9:54.50 margin over Williams, along with Andrew Whitaker edging Oliver Thomas 7.943 to 7.948 in the 60-meter hurdles final.

Jacob Ridderhoff finished fourth in the 3,000 in 8:18.22 and Giovanni Alfred secured seventh in the 60 hurdles in 8:18 to account for Washington’s remaining points.

Despite not winning a single event, Wisconsin-Eau Claire showcased strong depth in the pole vault, with Abrahm Schroedl taking third, Noah Reedy placing seventh and Mitch Stegeman earning eighth.

Schroedl and Stegeman were also third and fourth in the heptathlon, scoring 5,094 and 5,059 points, respectively.

Yakob Ekoue was fourth in the shot put with a mark of 53-5.50 (16.29m) and Jordan Lijewski, who anchored the 4x400 relay for Wisconsin-Eau Claire, also finished fourth in the 400 in 48.88.

Jalen Leonard-Osbourne of Ithaca won the 60-meter dash title in 6.76 and JP Vaught of Centre triumphed in the 200 in 21.37, with Derek Plitt of Adrian finishing second in both events in 6.81 and 21.62.

Kieran Sheridan of SUNY Geneseo prevailed in the 400 in 48.36, ahead of DJ Anderson from Benedictine (Illinois) in 48.44.

Ryan Wilson of MIT clocked 1:50.92 to secure victory in the 800, holding off Steven Potter of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (1:51.07).

MIT teammate Kenneth Wei emerged victorious in the long jump with a leap of 24-5 (7.44m), with Jonathan Wilburn of Wisconsin-Oshkosh earning the triple jump crown with a 50-10 (15.49m) effort.

The men’s pole vault title was decided based on fewer attempts with a pair of athletes both clearing 16-6.75 (5.05m).

Ben Drumney of Southern Maine and Joe O’Connor of Washington and Lee both cleared the championship height on their first try, forcing the tiebreaker to occur at 16-4.75 (5.00m). Drumney cleared the bar on his second opportunity, with O’Connor making the height on his third try.

Kyle Rollins of St. John Fisher cleared 6-11.50 (2.12m) to capture the high jump title.

Kevin Ruechel produced a 58-4 (17.78m) performance in the shot put and Alex Kristeller of Widener won the weight throw with a mark of 66-10.75 (20.39m).

Ryan Rogers prevailed by nearly 300 points in the heptathlon, accumulating a score of 5,484 for Loras.

Pfadenhauer edged Kayla Armstrong of Concordia University (Chicago) by a 55.52 to 55.54 margin in the women’s 400, then capping Loras’ first title by securing the 4x400 victory in 3:46.45.

Parker had a pair of exciting showdowns with Ari Marks of Wellesley, winning by a 9:43.82 to 9:44.87 margin in the 3,000, after producing a 16:15.06 to 16:19.20 victory in the 5,000.

Wartburg denied Parker a third title, with Aubrie Fisher holding off Loras on the anchor by an 11:41.85 to 11:42.35 margin in the DMR.

Ella Baran of Johns Hopkins won the mile in 4:47.97, with Evie Miller of Trine clocking 4:48.16 for second.

Johns Hopkins teammate Victoria Kadiri produced a 19-4.75 (5.91m) performance to emerge victorious in the long jump.

Esther Seeland of Messiah was dominant once again in the 800, adding another title to her resume with a 2:05.75 performance.

Adalia Coleman of Bridgewater secured the 60-meter dash crown in 7.61 and Isabella Hogue of Nebraska Wesleyan earned the 200 title in 24.66, with Tia Jones of Ithaca running 7.63 and 24.76 to place second in both events.

The women’s 60-meter hurdles final was also decided by the narrowest of margins, with Julia Babinec of North Central edging Hannah Zastrow of Wisconsin-Stout 8.607 to 8.610.

Meghan Matheny of Ithaca and Sarah Voit of Oberlin both cleared 12-11.50 (3.95m) on their first attempts in the women’s pole vault. Matheny captured the title based on being clean at her first seven bars, with Voit missing twice at earlier heights to determine the tiebreaker.

Jaidyn Appel of Tufts cleared 5-9.25 (1.76m) to earn the high jump championship, with teammate Lia Rotti winning the triple jump title with a 40-8.25 (12.40m) effort.

Skye Digman was a winner for team runner-up Wisconsin-La Crosse, capturing the shot put with a mark of 50-2.75 (15.31m), and teammate Hannah Zenkovich prevailed in the pentathlon with 3,744 points.

Kaitlyn Wilder of Dubuque triumphed in the weight throw at 63-3.25 (19.28m).