Murfin An All-American on Day One Of NCAA Championships
May 23, 2019
GENEVA, Ohio – The 2019 NCAA Divison III Outdoor Track and Field Championships began on Thursday with five UD individuals and two relays competing. Blaze Murfin competed in his first of three events of the weekend and earned All-American honors after finishing fifth in the discus.
Blaze Murfin began his hectic weekend, competing in the men’s discus on Thursday morning. Murfin set the tone early as he opened with a throw of 50.12m/164-05 to sit in second after the first round of throws. However, that was Murfin’s best of his six throws and would finish in fifth place to pick up his fourth career outdoor All-American honor. Murfin will look to defend his title in the shot put on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
The Spartan women had three different indviduals participating in the discus championships on Friday afternoon. Rebecca Burmahl, who came in with the eighth best mark among all throwers in the discus, missed the finals after a mark of 38.77m/127-02.50 gave her an 18th place finish. Her teammate Kayla Slowick finished one spot ahead of her as Slowick tossed her best throw on her first attempt to finish in 17th with a best mark of 39.76m/130-05.50.
Kelsey Betthauser scratched on her first two throws of the prelims before vaulting herself into the finals with a throw of 43.43m/142-06.00 to sit in sixth place heading into the finals. Betthauser would scratch on all three of her throws in the finals and got passed by three other throwers to finish ninth, missing All-American status by one spot.
The women’s 4x100 relay team of Ya’Mia Ailes-Primes, Brittany Burks, Alyssa Skrove and Alison Beeman were the first running event of the weekend for the Spartans. The Spartans came into the meet at the fourth seed but failed to make the Saturday’s finals as they finished 14th in the prelims after posting a time of 48.41.
Alison Beeman returned to the track shortly after the 4x100 relay to compete in the prelims of the 200m dash. Beeman took second in the second of three heats of the 200m dash in 24.06 to advance to the finals on Saturday with the second best time overall.
The men’s 4x400 relay team of Isaiah Ellis, Colfay Pointer, Joshua Cash and Tavian Rumple capped the opening day of the championships for the Spartans. The relay came into the championships with the 14th best time and jumped up to 10th after their blazing mark of 3:15.67, however, the 10th place finish missed qualifying for the finals which takes the top nine.
Friday Schedule
10:30 a.m. – Men’s Shot Put – Prelims & Finals
1:00 p.m. – Women’s Shot Put – Prelims & Finals
2:15 p.m. – Men’s 400m – Prelims
2:45 p.m. – Women’s 100 - Prelims
Saturday Schedule
10:00 a.m. – Men’s Triple Jump – Prelims & Final|
10:00 a.m. – Women’s Hammer – Prelims & Final
12:20 p.m. – Men’s 400m – Finals*
12:30 p.m. – Women’s 100m – Finals*
12:45 p.m. – Men’s Hammer – Prelims & Final
1:40 p.m. – Women’s 200m Dash – Final*
3:00 p.m. – Men’s 4x400 Relay – Final*
