Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) track and field team Oklahoma Baptist University Invitational
The long break was strategic according to Head Coach Jason Covarrubias , “When you create schedules you try to spread out meets to keep your athletes fresh and to avoid them from peaking too soon; but these three weeks seemed to creep along. It was good to see them compete again and to get back into the rhythm again.”
The SAGU men were led by Jerry Nava who finished second overall in his second-ever attempt of the 3,000 steeple chase. Nava also hit the qualifying mark for the NCCAA National Championships in the 5,000m with a time of 15:36.99. He finished seventh out of 33 athletes and impressively set a new school record that was originally set by him. So far this season, Nava has qualified for the NCCAA National Championships in 3,000 steeple chase and 5,000m as well as the NAIA National Marathon Championship .
“I’m happy for Jerry on hitting the mark a month earlier than he did last year,” says Covarrubias, “He looks good but there are a lot of them that do.”
SAGU’s Jenson Price and Adrian Cedillo both set personal bests in the 100m. Price also set a personal record in the 200m and Cedillo did the same in the 5,000m.
Senior captain Destiny Garza led the Lady Lions. Garza placed 13 th out of 43 runners in the 1,500m with the time of 5:13.34. She also finished second out of eight in the 5,000m with the time of 18:20.77.
Fille Kinyamahanga and Caitlin Cruz also competed well in the 5,000m with the times of 22:17.22 and 22:45.62.
On April 7, 2017, SAGU track will compete at the Steven F. Austin Carl Knight Invitational Distance Carnival .
Covarrubias believes that more national qualifiers can be expected, “Some are close to hitting the qualifying mark for the NCCAA Nationals that they can taste it. This will keep them hungry.”
About SAGU:
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
