By Ron Smith
March 4, 2021
 
(YANKTON, Calif.) Seth Wilmoth earned NAIA All-American honors and two Warrior men's relays teams qualified for the finals in today's competition at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
 
"Seth had a beautiful first clearance on his opening height at 4.70 meters (15-5)," reported Westmont head coach Russell Smelley. "Then he went up a pole and things were a little off. He didn't quite get the same attack on his three attempts at the next height of 4.85 meters (15-11). His hips were plenty high enough, but he wasn't deep enough into the bar."
 
Wilmoth finished tied for sixth place to notch his fourth NAIA All-American title.
 
"He's an All-American again, which made the price of shipping the poles worth it," quipped Smelley.
 
The 4 x 800 meter relay team of John Baker, Danny Rubin, Jason Peterson and Zola Sokhela completed the 16-lap course in a time of 7:52.95. The Warrior quartet finished fourth in heat number one and eighth overall.
 
"The 4 x 800 was a rough learning experience, but they snuck in," said Westmont head coach Russell Smelley. "It is a different track and different situation. Three of them had not run on a 200-meter track before.
 
"They were behind a whole line of runners and thinking about pace and time instead of about competing and moving up. They learned that lesson quickly. Senzo went out in a time of 23 seconds on his first 200 meters to catch up. He paid for it on his last 200 meters, but he held it together and they got into the finals on time."
 
The finals of the 4 x 800 relay are scheduled for Saturday at 7:20 a.m. (PST).
 
Two hours later, Rubin, Jarad Harper, Peterson and Sokhela teamed up for the distance medley relay (DMR) and finished second in the second heat. Their time of 10:17.66 was third fastest overall. The race consists of different length legs starting with 1200 meters, followed by 400 meters, then 800 meters, and concluding with 1600 meters.
 
"The DMR was much better," said Smelley, "Danny struggled early and was lost behind the pack. However, he pulled it together in the last 150 meters to move into a good position. That let Jarad run a nice 400 meters in the first time he had ever been on an indoor track.
 
"Jason held his own in the 800. We knew that the first heat had been faster and so we knew we had to finish in the top two. Zola's job was to finish first or second. He rode the guy who was in second and passed him with about 100 meters to go."
 
The finals of the DMR will take place on Saturday at 1:25 p.m. (PST).
 
"For the first two days, we have had great success with all the athletes doing well," concluded Smelley.
 
Tomorrow marks a return to the women's competition with two Warriors vying for national titles. Madden Hundley will compete in the mile run beginning at 9:30 a.m. (PST). Half an hour later, Sydney Marr will compete in the 25-pound weight throw.