(LEBANON, Ill., May 1)—For the fourth consecutive year, the McKendree University men's track and field team has won the American Midwest Conference Outdoor Championships.
The Bearcats ran up 197 points to defeat runner-up William Woods University by 50 points to earn the 2011 AMC Track and Field Championships title, which was settled on Saturday at Leemon Field. McKendree has won every AMC men's title since the league first sponsored an outdoor post-season meet in 2008. The Bearcats were able to build its winning margin thanks to four individual championships, three relay crowns and 17 total top-three finishes on the weekend.
Sophomore Elkana Kipsang (Eldoret, Kenya/Legebet) (Eldoret, Kenya) won two individual races during the meet for McKendree. Kipsang claimed distance titles in the 1,500-meter run (4:03,19) and the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:13.76). Kipsang also registered a third-place showing in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:54.89.
Junior Nick Thompson (Herrin, IL/Herrin) (Herrin, Ill./Herrin) won the men's 400-meter dash, crossing the finish line in a time of 48.90 seconds. Freshman Erick Requadt (Chesterfield, MO/Jersey Community) (Jerseyville, Ill./Jersey Community) took the Bearcats' other individual crown by winning the 5,000-meter racewalk. Requadt covered the distance in a time of 30:45.21.
Three different Bearcats grabbed top-three finishes in two events each. In sprints, junior Jordan Stark (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) took second place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.63 seconds. He also placed third in the 400-meter dash at 49.74 seconds.
In throwing events – which were contested at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. – freshmen E.J. Rahar (Troy, IL/Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad) and Chris Willhite (Troy, IL/Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad) had a successful meet. Willhite posted a pair of second-place efforts in the shot put (43 feet, 3 ½ inches) and the javelin (150 feet, three inches). Rahar nabbed two third-place finishes in the shot put (41 feet, 11 ½ inches) and the discus (129 feet, 11 inches).
Freshman Ryan Todd (Jerseyville, IL/Jerseyville) (Jerseyville, Ill./Jersey Community) was second in the 800-meter run, crossing the finish line in a time of 1:54.39. Sophomore Blake DeLong (Hillsboro, IL/Hillsboro) (Hillsboro, Ill./Hillsboro) was the runner-up in the 1,500-meter run with an effort of 4:04.55, while sophomore Kendall Nelson (East St. Louis, IL/East St. Louis) (East St. Louis, Ill./East St. Louis) collected a second-place finish in the triple jump with a distance of 42 feet, 3 ½ inches.
In the high jump, freshman Josh Wilhelm (Trenton, IL/Wesclin) (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) was third with a height of six feet, five inches. Freshman Ryan Keen (Country Club Hills, IL/Hillcrest) (Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest) was third in the long jump at 21 feet, 5 ¼ inches. Rodnee Pope was also third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.99 seconds.
McKendree will return to action May 13 at the Louisville Twilight Open in Louisville, Ky.
