Westmont’s participation in the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships came to an end today with Warrior runners competing in four races. Junior Eric Williams posted a time of 1:55.23 in the semifinals of the men’s 800 meters but missed qualifying for tomorrow’s finals. Williams was the seventh finisher in the second heat.
Freshman Matt Day finished in eleventh place in the third heat of the 5,000 meter prelims with a time of 16:13.46.
In the women’s 5,000 meter prelims, junior Chrissa Trudelle recorded a time of 19:11.27 in a thirteenth place finish in the second heat. Freshman Danica Rosendale competed in the first heat, completing the race in a time of 20:07.04 and finishing fifteenth.
Head coach Russell Smelly offered his perspective on Westmont’s national championship experience.
“Having an All-American is always a high point,” said the coach in reference to Brent Lagace’s third place finish in the men’s javelin. “Brent competed well yesterday. It was a really nice accomplishment for him. Sixteen months after he starts throwing the javelin, he is an All-American. He used a real disappointing effort a year ago and committed from that day forward to get the result he had yesterday. So he really did what you have to do as an athlete.
“Eric Williams had a good meet. He was competitive and made it to the semifinals and then found out how fast you have to run to make it to the finals. He wasn’t capable of doing that today, but he gave an equitable effort nonetheless.
“Our freshman ran like freshman, overcome by the emotional impact of the whole thing. There is a lot to be learned. (The question is) will they respond like a Brent Lagace, take that disappointment, and go forward with it.”
After taking in the final day of the national championship tomorrow, the Warriors will return to Santa Barbara on Sunday.
