Meet Recap: 2023 NCAA DII Indoor T&F Championships

Champions were crowned at the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia!

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Pittsburg State ran away with the men’s team title, while Adams State topped the podium on the women’s side.

Men’s Recap

Pittsburg State put together a dominant performance to run away (literally) with the men’s title. The Gorillas won the program’s second national title inprogram history and first since 2018 with 86 points – more than double of what runner-up Adams State tallied.

Pittsburg State won five of the eight events it scored in. Cordell Tinch was a two-time national champion in the 60-meter hurdles (7.51) and the high jump (2.18m/7-1¾). Tinch’s 7.51 not only eclipsed the meet record of 7.52 he set in yesterday’s prelim, it is also the second-fastest time behind his all-time record of 7.50. He now owns seven of the top-8 times ever recorded in DII history.

The Gorillas also swept the vertical jumps behind Henry Kiner’s meet record of 8.04m (26-4½) in the long jump and Treyvon Ferguson bounding 15.88m (52-1¼) in the triple jump. Pittsburg State completed their dominant effort by closing out the meet with a 4×400-meter relay title in 3:09.63.

Even more impressive, Pittsburg State’s sprints and hurdles squad alone scored 56 points. That would have placed them second in the team standings. The most points for the Gorillas came in the 60-meter hurdles (20) and 400 meters (11).

Adams State scored 42 points to secure a second-place finish. Miguel Coca led the team with his natinoal title in the mile (4:07.17) and runner-up finish in the 3000 meters (8:01.81). Awet Beraki also captured silver in the 5000 meters (13:57.58). The Grizzlies put the most points on the board in the mile and 3000 meters, scoring 14 points in both.

Grand Valley Staet finished third with 29 points, while three teams tied for fourth. Academy of Art, Missouri Southern and West Texas A&M each scored 26 points.

Women’s Recap

Adams State held a 52-51 advantage over Minnesota State heading into the last event of the competition. The Grizzlies had no more scoring opportunities. The Mavericks did, as their quartet was seeded in the final heat.

All Adams State could do was watch.

When the dust settled, Adams State secured the team title after Minnesota State placed ninth in the 4×400-meter relay.

Adams State captured its fifth national title in program history and first since 2019. The Grizzlies scored in four events, led by a pair of national titles by Stephanie Cotter. Cotter’s first won the mile in 4:49.86 before coming back to smash the NCAA DII record in the 3000 meters with her 9:06.03 effort. She also led off the Grizzlies’ runner-up DMR.

Brianna Robles scored 16 points for Adams State with a pair of runner-up finishes in the 5000 meters and 3000 meters. Robles’ 9:06.72 in the 3000 meters also dipped under the previous all-time best. The 3000 meters was the Grizzlies’ best event with 21 points to give them a one-point lead heading into the 4×400-meter relay, and eventually the national title.

Minnesota State placed in eight events, including a pair of national titles from Denisha Cartwright and Makayla Jackson. Cartwright went 8.11 in the 60-meter hudles to become the the No. 4 performer in meet history and match her No. 9 mark in NCAA DII history, which she ran ealier this year. Jackson equalied the meet record in the 60 meters with her 7.20 winner to become the No. 3 performer in NCAA DII history. That duo scored a combined 40 points towards the Mavericks’ total, which would have placed them fourth in the team standings.

West Texas A&M finsiehd third with 46 points, followed by fourth-place Azusa Pacific (37) and fifth-place Winona State (36).

Quick Hits From The Meet

We’re working to compile a complete list from both days of competition, which saw numerous records broken at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

Bearcats Smash 4×400 Record

Northwest Missouri was ranked third in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:41.44 heading into the NCAA Championships.

The Bearcats surpassed their seed and won a national title in record-breaking style.

The quartet of Chloe Saenz, Luisarys Toledo, Kennedi Cline and Tiffany Hughey clocked a blistering 3:36.76 to smash the NCAA DII record in the event. Not only did the Bearcats better the record of 3:38.38 set by Angelo State this year, they also topped the former all-conditions best of 3:37.12 set by Lincoln (Mo.) in 2019.

Angelo State placed second in 3:38.31, also going under their old record and running a season best, but were unable to stay with Northwest Missouri. The Bearcats took the led on the third leg, with Hughey extending the lead on the anchor to seal the victory.

Brown Makes History For Lenoir-Rhyne

Alexis Brown of Lenoir-Rhyne won Lenoir-Rhyne’s first national title in track & field.

Brown broke the NCAA DII record in the 200 meters with her 23.26 winner. She topped the previous best of 23.32 set by Semoy Hackett of Lincoln (Mo.) in 2010. Brown came off the final curve in second behind Densiha Cartwright of Minnesota State, but one final push in the homestretch by Brown gave her the lead in the closing meters capture the victory.

It was a fast 200 meter final, as the top-4 finishers moved into the top-10 in DII history. Runner-up Ayana Fields is now No. 3 at 23.36, Cartwright placed third in 23.38 to go to No. 4, and fourth-place Divonne Franklin is No. 9 all-time at 23.49.

El Bouchayby Improves DII Record

Oussama El Bouchayby of Angelo State broke his own NCAA DII record in the 800 meters, winning the NCAA crown in 1:46.78. He topped his previous best of 1:47.11 set 13 days ago on Feburary 26, while also bettering the meet record of 1:47.23 set by Thomas Staines in 2018.

It was a wire-to-wire victory for El Bouchayby as he pushed the pace from the gun. He registered 200 meter splits of 25.13, 26.87 and 27.91 before closing his final lap in 26.89.

Cunningham Makes Most Of Opportunity

Lindsay Cunningham just missed the NCAA DII record in the Women’s 5000 Meters when she won the NSIC title a few weeks ago.

She wasn’t going to miss it this time.

The Winona State star got a package deal, smashing the NCAA DII record with her 15:41.30 winner on Friday evening. Cunningham topped the previous best of 15:47.88 set by Brianna Robles of Adams State exactly one month ago to the day. Cunningham also beat the former record-holder for the national title, as Robles finished second in 15:51.26.

Lakers Reclaim DMR Title

The Women’s Distance Medley Relay title is heading back to Allendale, Michigan for the fourth time since the event has been contested at the NCAA Championships.

The Grand Valley State quartet of Klaudia O’Malley, Kate Zang, Taryn Chapko and Natalie Graber topped the podium after clocking a NCAA DII record-breaking 11:12.47. The Lakers beat the previous all-time best of 11:15.28 set by Adams State in 2017. Graber anchored the Lakers with a 4:39.52 split to bring home the victory. This is the second title in the last three years for GVSU, who last won it in 2021.

Kiner Soars Into Rare Territory

Henry Kiner of Pittsburg State soared soars 8.04m (26-4½) to win the Men’s Long Jump. Kiner, who set a new PR on his final jump of the competition, smashed the meet record and is now the third-best performer on NCAA DII all-time chart.

How good is Kiner’s mark, you ask?

Kiner is just the third athlete in NCAA DII history to go over the 8-meter mark in the event. He joins record-holder Larry Myricks (8.09m/26-6½) and Mark Mason (8.05m/26-5) as the only men to achieve the feat.

Tinch Adds To Hurdle Legacy

Cordell Tinch continued to add to his hurdle legacy.

The Pittsburg State standout set a meet record after clocking 7.52 in the prelims of the Men’s 60 Meter Hurdles, besting the previous meet record of 7.53 set by Myles Hunter in 2016. That is also the second-fastest mark in NCAA DII history behind his all-time record of 7.50 that he set earlier this season, giving him six of the top-7 times ever recorded.