JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Three-thousandths of a second – literally a blink of an eye. That was the separation between the Marian (Ind.) and the College of Idaho's distance medley relay teams in an epic race on Day 1 of the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships at Gentry Field.
Complete Results A monster kick from senior
Max Hampton rallied the Coyotes from fifth-place into the lead of the relay inside the final lap – but Bethel (Ind.) runner Joel Hartman leaned at the tape for the win (10:17.53), with a video replay determining MU's Chandler Ball crossing the line in 10:17.652, ahead of Hampton's 10:17.655 – giving the Knights the final spot into Saturday's final.
Freshman
Austin Fred tried to keep pace in the opening 1,200-meter leg – handing off to Joe Bolin with the Yotes in fourth-place in the eight team heat. Following the 400-meter leg by Bolin and
Dylan Walker's 800-meter leg, the Yotes were 50-yards behind the lead pack of Bethel, Marian and Westmont (Calif.). Hampton, running the 1,600-meter finale, closed the gap over the final 600-meters, setting up the wild finish.
No Coyote will compete on Friday, with Hampton returning to the track on Saturday in the finals of the 3,000-meters.
