NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Sophomore Isaiah Watson delivered a historic performance to lead the Hamline University track and field programs at the MIAC Outdoor Championships this weekend. Highlighted by Watson's conference title and a flurry of national-caliber marks, the Pipers combined for dozens of personal bests against the best in the conference.
The story of the meet was Isaiah Watson in the triple jump. Watson secured the MIAC individual title with a massive leap of 15.32 meters, a mark that established new Meet and Facility records while shattering his own school record. The performance currently ranks No. 2 in all of NCAA Division III and solidifies his position as a national title contender. Watson also added a sixth-place finish in the long jump (6.76m) to complete a high-scoring weekend. He was joined in the triple jump team scoring by freshman Rufus Zulu, who took eighth place with a personal-best mark of 13.56 meters.
On the track, the Piper men were led by senior Andrei Pettis and sophomore Manny Poscher. Pettis fought through a fast field to take fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.65 seconds, a mark that currently sits at No. 67 nationally. Poscher enjoyed a breakthrough weekend in the 400-meter dash, dropping nearly a second off his previous best to finish fifth in 49.63 seconds. Junior Morris Suah also contributed to the team score by placing sixth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.41 seconds.
In the vertical jumps, junior Austin Schloeder earned a second place podium finish in the pole vault, clearing 4.60 meters. Senior Josiah Budiman secured fifth place in the long jump with a season-best leap of 6.79 meters. The men's throwers showed great depth in the discus and hammer throw, as Eddie Herman and Dillon Thurston both placed in the top eight of the discus throw. Thurston added a seventh-place finish in the hammer throw with a toss of 49.59 meters, while Davian Vu narrowly missed points placement in ninth.
The women's squad was anchored by a standout performance from sophomore Magenta Owens in the throwing events. Owens took fifth in the discus with a personal-best toss of 41.46 meters, a mark that moved her to No. 74 in the national rankings. She followed that up with an eighth-place finish in the hammer throw, posting another career best of 46.58 meters. Freshman Mabel Badejo continued her stellar debut season by taking sixth in the long jump with a mark of 5.47 meters.
On the track, the women's relay teams proved to be among the elite in the region. The 4x100-meter relay team of Grace Hoffmann, Jaz Turnbaugh, Alexi Schneider, and Claire Siems finished fifth with a season-best time of 48.61 seconds, which ranks No. 85 in Division III. Siems also excelled individually, taking seventh in the 200-meter dash with a personal-best 25.89 seconds. The women's 4x400-meter relay team earned sixth place with a season-best 4:04.27, and the 4x800-meter squad chipped in a point with an eighth-place finish.
With the conference championships concluded, the Pipers will wait for final national qualifying lists to be released, while others prepare for final qualifying meets in hopes of joining Watson on the national stage.
