ALLENDALE, Mich.— Drury’s first representation at the NCAA-II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in nine years resulted in the program’s best placement ever at the national meet by a Panther as Katie McCune earned a place on the podium with a fifth-place finish in the finals of the 800 meter run on Saturday in Allendale, Michigan.
Katie McCune completed the event in 2:09.36 to become the first Drury’s women’s athlete to finish in the top eight at the national championship. The Springfield native out of New Covenant Academy finished her first 400 meters in 1:05.84 and was boxed in at eighth place at the race’s midway mark. She moved to the outside on the first curve of second lap, though, and surged through a pack of runners on the backstretch. Alison Andrews-Paul from Simon Fraser pulled away from the group in the final 250 meters but was caught and passed down the stretch by Kelly-Ann Beckford of Lincoln (Mo.).
Beckford won with a time of 2:05.88, Andrews-Paul was second (2:06.47) and Ukeyvia Beckwith from Embry-Riddle came in third (2:08.74). Chrissiani May from Lincoln (Mo.) was just ahead of McCune in fourth with a time of 2:09.32. Katie reached the finish line only 0.02 seconds in front of sixth-place Taryn Chapko from Grand Valley State. The finals featured nine runners that advanced through a field of 24 in Friday’s preliminary heats.
Earlier on Saturday, Jolie McClellan finished 19th in the javelin on Saturday. The sophomore from Raymore, Missouri, had a throw of 39.74 meters / 130 feet, four inches on her third attempt. McClellan toppled Lewis’ Aliza Van Den Elzen’s distance of 39.20 meters for 20th and was behind Nicole Warwick from Azusa Pacific, who had a throw of 40.18 meters. Candesha Scott from Texas A&M-Commerce won the event posting a throw of 54.82 meters. There were 21 competitors in this year’s javelin throw at the national meet.
Drury sent three student-athletes to this year’s NCAA-II Track & Field Championships, marking the first time DU has sent multiple participants to nationals. On Thursday, Claire McCune finished 18th overall in the preliminaries of the 1500 meter run.
Panthers head coach Lee Wood completed his first season guiding the program in 2021-22.
The Outdoor Track & Field Championships marks the end of Drury’s 2021-22 season for NCAA sports. The Panthers saw action in 11 NCAA championship events during the year, won three conference titles, and earned the Commissioner’s Cup from Great Lakes Valley Conference for postseason success in the league’s core sports.
