Track & Field Sends Seven to NCAA National Championships
Published: April 13, 2021
GREENVILLE, Ill. - Greenville College outdoor track and field saw their regular season draw to a close this past weekend, but not before the club inked seven athletes into the upcoming NCAA DIII Outdoor National Championships.
Four will be represented on the mens side for the Black & Orange, while three on the womens side will make the trip.
We are extremely excited about the opportunity to make some noise in California, said head coach Brian Patton. These men and women have worked very hard to get there and they deserve the best. I am very proud and anticipate a great weekend at Nationals.
For the women, senior and six-time All-American Penny Grant will make her third consecutive trip to nationals with qualifying marks in the long jump and 100m dash. Grant owns school records in both and will make her championship debut in the 100m sprint this weekend.
Junior burner Philita Johnson will join Grant on the California bound flight. Johnson punched her ticket to the national showcase for a third straight time. The East St. Louis product was held out of last years championships with a nagging injury, but she ready to run in what could be her final campaign.
I feel strong right now, commented the graduating Johnson. Hopefully we can all do our best and compete at the level we know we can.
To close out the women notables, senior Kristen Schutte notched her spot by way of the Javelin throw. Schutte is coming of a record setting performance last Saturday in the event and is peaking at a perfect time. This is Schuttes second straight NCAA DIII National Championship.
On the mens side freshman starlet Bruce Gray will lead the four-man team to west coast. Gray currently sits eighth in the nation in the 100m and 200m dash respectively. The newcomer claimed All-American status indoors in the 60m. Gray is running well and won both the 100m and 200m this past weekend, won the 100m at Louisville the week before, and was NCCAA performer of meet three weeks ago.
Rounding out the qualifiers is the highest seeded Greenville attendee. The 4x100m dash foursome. Currently placed fifth in all of the United States, the squad comprised of seniors Anthony Ambers and Brian White, sophomore Josh Garcia, and rookie Gray will look to place high in the championships.
The NCAA Outdoor National Championships will take place on May 24-26 in Claremont, Calif. at Burns Stadium.
