Grace Track Stars Among Weekly Honors
By Josh Neuhart
Grace College Sports Information
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s track and field team picked up three national honors on Monday from the NCCAA.
Gracious O’Connor, Isaac Brown and John Green were named the NCCAA Student-Athletes of the Week for the Lancers after their performances at the George Glass Invitational.
Additionally, O’Connor was named the Crossroads League Women’s Outdoor Athlete of the Week.
O’Connor had a part in two winning events for the Lady Lancers. She won the 100-meter dash in 12.24 seconds. The women’s 4×100 relay established a new school record of 48.32 to win the event and hit the NAIA “B” standard. The foursome of Julia Malson, Nordia Campbell, O’Connor and Sarah O’Day become the first women’s relay team from Grace to ever qualify for the NAIA Outdoor Nationals.
Green claimed the unofficial title of “fastest man in Grace history” with his time in the 100-meter dash. He broke one of the oldest records in the record book, sprinting to a time of 10.70 seconds to win the race. His mark tops the previous best of 10.84 set by Ron Smith in 1984. He also was runner-up in the 4×400 (along with Tanner Sallee, Tyler Morrison and Kyle Smith).
Brown cleared 6-feet-11 to win the high jump and break his own school record. That height surpassed the NAIA “A” qualifying standard and is currently tied for the top mark in the NAIA.
The Lancers are headed to Manchester on Saturday for their next meet.