MARION, Ind. – Eastern Oregon Track and Field kept their momentum going on the final day of the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Another beautiful day in Marion, Indiana led to three more All-American performances for EOU as
Justin Ash (3,000m Steeplechase),
Michelle Herbes (800), and
Tanner Nett (shot put) all set PR's and finished with the elite honor.
"What a week," Head Coach
Ben Welch Said. "A lot of outstanding performances throughout the squads!"
As for team scores, on the men's side Eastern finished 24th overall with 13.25 points. The finish marks a 10-spot jump from their USTFCCCA ranking of No. 34 in the nation. The women coming in ranked No. 9 nationally finished 11th with an overall score of 22 points.
In total the Mounties had 10 athletes earn All-American honors in 9 different events. EOU's 2023 All-Americans are listed at the bottom of this page along with their event, time/mark, and place.
Over the course of the meet EOU also broke four program records in the women's hammer throw (
Kenna Woodward), the women's shot put (
Maggie Ledbetter), the men's shot put (
Tanner Nett), and the 4 x 800-meter relay (
Katie Jo Gebhardt,
Michelle Herbes,
Lauryn Mitchell,
Madelyn Nichols).
"Four school records is just an indication of how well our team performed. I am extremely proud of how they represented Mountie Nation," Welch said.
Read more about day three's events below.
MEN
3,000m Steeplechase: In just his fifth 3,000-meter steeplechase race ever,
Justin Ash made his mark in the program record books finishing fourth overall with a time of 9:11.24. The PR time moves Ash up to No. 4 all-time in the EOU record book, one spot ahead of his former high school coach
Nic Maszk who was an All-American himself. Ash's fourth-place finish earned him All-American honors.
1,500 Meters: Hunter Nichols wrapped up action for EOU on the track in the 1,500-meter run placing 10th, just shy of earning All-American status with a time of 3:55.63.
Shot Put: Tanner Nett's remarkable ascent in the shot put continued on the biggest stage. The sophomore made history once again as the first Mountie to ever break 17 meters in the event, clearing it easily with a hurl of 17.60 meters. The throw broke his own record set at the CCC Championships on May 12 and 13. Nett's mark was good for second place and earned him All-American honors in the event.
WOMEN
800 Meters: Michelle Herbes wrapped up an excellent career with one final All-American performance in the 800-meter run. The senior out of Union, Oregon finished seventh with a time of 2:11.56. In her final race the senior set a new personal record and moved up to third all-time in program history for the 800.
Discus: Maggie Ledbetter returned to the ring for the discus a day after winning the national championship in the shot. The grad student didn't register a mark in the event.
2023 EOU ALL-AMERICANS
MEN
Justin Ash: 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (9:11.24, fourth place)
Tyler Jones: High Jump, (2.0 meters, eighth place)
Tanner Nett: Shot Put (17.60 meters, second place)
WOMEN
Katie Jo Gebhardt: 4 x 800m Relay (9:18.06, eighth place)
Elizabeth Grandle: Javelin (44.10 meters, fifth place), Heptathlon (4,477 points, eighth place)
Michelle Herbes: 4 x 800m Relay (9:18.06, eighth place), 800 Meters (2:11.56, seventh place)
Maggie Ledbetter: Shot Put (15.47 meters, national champion)
Lauryn Mitchell: 4 x 800m Relay (9:18.06, eighth place)
Madelyn Nichols: 4 x 800m Relay (9:18.06, eighth place)
Kenna Woodward: Hammer Throw (54.83 meters, fifth place)
