OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Men's Track & Field team will have one last opportunity to notch either an NCCAA or NAIA National Championship Qualifier mark this weekend as the Evangels will be running in their final regular season indoor meet at the prestigious Washburn Open in Topeka, Kansas on Friday and Saturday.
Freshman Jaden Rodriguez continued to dazzle in the 800-meter and 3000-meter events at last week's NAIA/JUCO Challenge held in the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kansas on Saturday. In that meet, Rodriguez notched his fastest 800-meter time with a 1:58.80 to finish 14th of 42 runners. Later in the day, the Blanchard, Oklahoma native turned in his best 3000-meter finish, placing 10th out of 42 with a time of 8:59.07.
Entering the weekend, Rodriguez owns the eighth-best qualifying mark in the 800-meter, the best among all qualifying freshman for the NCCAA National Championships while ranking 16th in the 3000-meter.
This weekend, Rodriguez will look to improve his 3000-meter time while also competing as one of the legs in MACU's debut in the Distance Medley Relay.
The 4 x 800-meter relay team of Aidan Collins, Connor Gerth, Alexander Pebeahsy and Collin Seely made its MACU debut at the NAIA/JUCO Challenge, and by putting up a 4:51.67, the Evangels currently possess the second-fastest time in the NCCAA.
Transferring in at semester, sophomore Mohamed Zairi will be making his MACU debut as he will compete in the 800-meter as well as also being one of the legs of Distance Medley Relay team along with Collins, Rodriguez and Seely.
Rounding out competition for MACU will be the 5000-meter, which will be a first time event for the MACU Track & Field team. Competing in the longest individual race for the Evangels this indoor season will be Collins and Pebeahsy, who put up solid showings in the 3000-meter at the NAIA/JUCO Challenge last weekend.
Event Times – Friday, Jan. 31
Distance Medley Relay – 1:20 pm
5000-Meter – 4:40 pm
Event Times – Saturday, Feb. 1
800-Meter – 6:55 pm
