YJ Classic

The Graceland University men’s and women’s track teams won the Yellowjacket Classic Track Meet held in Lamoni, Iowa on Saturday, April 10.

The men’s team tallied 191 points, which is 85 more than the second place York College team. The Park University Pirates came in third with 101 points. On the women’s side, Graceland scored 198 points, followed by Park’s 111 and the Fort Scott Community College team came in third place.

Mickey Kaufman paced the men’s team in the middle distance events, placing first in the 3000-meter steeplechase, second in the 1500-meter run and fourth in the 800-meter run. In the long distance events, Jesse Wagenaar won the 10,000-meter run and Sammy Biwott placed second in the 5000 meter run. In the 100-meter dash, Graceland held down four of the top six places.

Sarah Glynn led the ladies team with 40 points in five events, including first-place finishes in the long jump and the 100-meter hurdles. Kelly Reif, an All-American javelin thrower in 2003, won the event, followed by Jill Chester in second place. The Graceland trio of Sarah Glynn, Jolyn Noble and Calea Bourne swept the first three spots in the 100-meter hurdles. Individually, Graceland achieved seven first place and eight second place finishes.

The Graceland track teams travel to Grinnell, Iowa for the Dick Young Classic on April 17, 2004. The Yellowjacket teams will host two more meets this season, including Graceland’s Mid-West Championships on May 8 and Graceland’s Multi-Event Open Decathlon/Heptathlon on May 15.