LA GRANDE, Ore. –
Lane Maher hit the NAIA "A" standard with a victory in the 400-meter hurdles and anchored the 4x400-meter relay to a come-from-behind bronze medal finish to secure a tie for the programs first conference title in 95 years, as The College of Idaho competed at the Cascade Conference Men's Track and Field Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Banner Bank Track.
The Yotes trailed Eastern Oregon by one point heading into the 4x4 and trailed the Mountaineers throughout the first three legs. Enter Maher, who rallied the team with a 48-second anchor split, passing EOU's Hunter Nichols on the final straightaway to place third (3:22.65) – with the effort pulling C of I even with EOU at 203 points – setting off an entire team celebration at the finish line.
It marked the first CCC championship for the Yotes since track and field returned to the College in 2005 and their first track title since winning the inaugural Northwest Conference meet in 1926.
"This was a huge step for our men's program," said head coach
Austin Basterrechea. "Following the meet, I told the team that they faced more adversity this year than any other team or any other generation has dealt with. For our team to come together as a group and win a title – I can't put it into words – I am so proud of every one of the athletes."
Maher was key on the track, winning the 400-meter hurdles with a school-record time of 53.72 seconds, punching his ticket to nationals with the auto qualifying time.
Casey Senethavilay broke the oldest C of I school record, placing fourth in the 100-meters (10.82), breaking Bernie Hamilton's mark of 10.84 seconds from 1972. He added a silver medal performance in the 200-meters (22.12).
Daniel Butler added a bronze medal effort in the 800-meters, with a season-best time of 1:56.10.
Key to the Yotes success was in the field events – as C of I recorded picked up 24 team points in the discus.
Bryan Terry won his second event of the weekend, hitting the NAIA "B" mark (47.61 meters / 156 feet, 2 inches), with
Stephen Campbell in second (46.48 meters, 152 feet, 6 inches),
Alec Kuzmack fourth (41.91 meters / 137 feet, 6 inches) and
Caleb Brown eighth (40.05 meters / 131 feet, 5 inches).
C of I also got key points in the triple jump, as
Nate Griswold took second (13.58 meters / 44 feet, 6.75 inches),
Devyn Morris placed fourth (13.35 meters / 43 feet, 9.75 inches) and
Jonathan Gale took eighth (12.16 meters / 39 feet, 10.75 inches).
C of I will close out the season in two weeks at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala.
