Track and Field Culminates the Indoor Season at the WAC Championships

2/29/2020 10:48:00 PM | Track and Field

WAC Indoor 2020 Results

Bryan and Herner Bring Home Four Gold Medals

NAMPA, Idaho – Kansas City Track and Field culminated the indoor season with the Western Athletic Conference Championship this weekend, with the men's team placing fourth and the women's team fifth. Herner and Bryan brought home four gold medals and two silver medals in total. Four other Roos racked up silver medals and one Roo and the men's distance medley team earned bronze medals.

It was a weekend highlighted by the two Roos used to being at the top this season, sophomore Sommer Herner and graduate student Christopher Bryan. They both picked up two golds and a silver each in their respective three events. For their incredible performances, Herner was named the Women's Outstanding Track Athlete and the Women's High Point Athlete of the entire women's field in the WAC Championships. Bryan was named the Men's Outstanding Field Athlete and the Men's High Point Athlete of the Indoor WAC Championship.

BRYAN BECOMES 3X TRIPLE JUMP CHAMPION AND 2X LONG JUMP CHAMPION - MAKES WAC HISTORY

Graduate student Christopher Bryan finished off his career with a story book ending at the WAC Championships this weekend. This season has been one to remember for Bryan and he added to the memories two gold medals and a silver medal. After winning the Men's High Point Athlete this weekend, Bryan becomes the first ever athlete in the history of the Western Athletic Conference to three-peat the accolade in consecutive seasons since the WAC began naming the award in 1995. He also becomes the first ever athlete in the history of the WAC to win the Outstanding Field Athlete award twice after he won it last season as well.

"I can honestly say that I accomplished what I came here to do," said Bryan. "The goal was to have a repeat of my 2017 indoor season and I did just that. This one is probably the most memorable on the fact that I won the triple jump with a new school record after not taking a single jump for a whole year! That one is special to me."

On day one of the WAC Championships, Bryan blew away the competition in the triple jump with a jump of 15.98m. That mark broke the school record last set in 2009 on his way to his third gold medal in the triple jump in his indoor collegiate career at the WAC Championships. He becomes the first Roo to three-peat in an event in the same conference championships (Courtney Feirichs 3x champ in the 3k and 5k in WAC/Summit).

On day two, he notched his second career gold medal at the WAC Championships in the long jump, posting a mark of 7.60m. In the 60m hurdles, he earned a silver medal with a time of 8.16 seconds behind Grand Canyon's Trey Johnson.

TAKE FLIGHT CHRISTOPHER BRYAN ????

? ?? Triple Jump (15.98m) SR and 3x champ

? ?? Long Jump (7.60m) 2SH and 2x champ

? ?? 60m Hurdles (8.16 seconds) #ROOUP | #WACitf pic.twitter.com/MPOq3MVoGW
— Kansas City Cross Country - Track & Field (@KCRoosTrackXC) February 29, 2020

HERNER'S HISTORIC YEAR CAPPED OFF WITH THREE MEDALS
It has been a historic year for the sophomore out of St. Joseph, Mo., who has inked her name into the top-five performances in school history in her events this season four different times. She carried her previous impressive performances this season into the weekend, garnering two gold medals and a silver at the WAC Championships. For her performance, she earned her first conference championship accolades in her young career with the Women's Outstanding Track Athlete award and the Women's High Point Award. She becomes the first women's athlete in school history since joining the WAC in 2013 to win both awards, and she did it in the same season nonetheless.

"Coming into the meet today, I was excited to have the opportunity to compete in three events," said Herner. "I really focused on staying relaxed and patient throughout my races. Being able to represent Kansas City today felt so special. Having the support of my teammates and coaches really motivated me to work hard today and I am proud of how the team did overall today."

Herner won her first event today in the mile run with a time of 4:59.67. That marked Herner's first gold medal in her young collegiate career.

Sommer Herner is too fast ???? Takes ?? in the mile run with a time of 4.59.67 ????????#ROOUP | | #WACitf

pic.twitter.com/tvtg7P9hxz
— Kansas City Cross Country - Track & Field (@KCRoosTrackXC) February 29, 2020

She followed that up with a photo finish in the 800m run. She overtook UTRGV's Kyra Kuerentjes in the home stretch, winning by two-one thousands of a second with a time of 2:16.393.

WHAT A FINISH ???????? went down the the thousand of a second and Herner picks up her second ?? on the day, this one in the 800m #ROOUP | #WACitf @NCAATrackField pic.twitter.com/TQXog5S8gf
— Kansas City Cross Country - Track & Field (@KCRoosTrackXC) February 29, 2020

In her final event of the day, she took home a silver medal in the 3000m run. Although she won heat one with a time of 10:04.91, New Mexico State's Dominguez won the second heat and finished with the best time. Herner had a coming out party this season and has a bright future ahead of her, as she is just a sophomore.

FIVE OTHER ROOS AND MEDLEY TEAM EARN MEDALS AT WAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Junior transfer Josh Benford has been huge for the Roos all season since joining the team in the second week of the season. This indoor season, Benford broke the high jump record in the Missouri Intercollegiate with a jump of 2.12m. This weekend, he broke that record and now owns the top two jumps in school history. He hit 2.14m
(7' 0.25) this weekend and finished with a silver medal due to a tie breaker (number of trials to hit that mark).

Ever seen a human take flight ?? Josh Benford hits his PR and breaks the school record with this 2.14m jump ?? Although he and UVU's Garnett tied, based off of the number of trials Benford earns ?? #ROOUP | #WACitf pic.twitter.com/ar5zHhl4WN
— Kansas City Cross Country - Track & Field (@KCRoosTrackXC) February 29, 2020

"Overall I'm happy with the performance," said Benford. " I didn't get first like I wanted, but I finally tackled seven-foot and am just thankful for the opportunity."

Gevon Foreman, another transfer for the Roos this season, hit his PR in the 35lb weight throw (17.98m) on day one. That throw ranks third-best in school history and earned him a silver medal.

Finishing right behind teammate Christopher Bryan in the long jump was Shammawi Wellington. The junior from Portmore, Jamaica hit his PR at 7.13m for a silver medal. That marks his first conference championship top-three finish in his collegiate career.

Also earning a silver for the Roos was junior Josh Sanders. His time in the 800m of 1:54.01 earned him his first individual collegiate top-three performance at the WAC Championships.

Senior Jaquez Perry finished off his indoor season with a bronze medal in the 400m run. Perry won heat one, but was out-paced in the second round by UTRGV's Hernandez and Utah Valley's Seth Dabb.

How about that finish ???????? Jaquez Perry takes first in heat one and after heat two finishes, earns a ?? in the 400m dash finals with a time of 48.97 #ROOUP | #WACitf pic.twitter.com/zJWSTF06uQ
— Kansas City Cross Country - Track & Field (@KCRoosTrackXC) February 29, 2020

HEAR FROM COACH SHIRLEY AND GUEMMER

"We had great individual performance this weekend. Sommer and Chris were terrific. They deserve all the accolades they receive. Sommer has come a long way and we are very happy she is seeing results from her hard work. Chris was special as always when it comes to these championships. We are just hoping his triple jump mark will get in the national meet. It was great to see Josh Benford over seven-feet in the high jump and Gevon having success in the throws. Hopefully we can use the next three weeks we are off and get better as a team for the outdoor season." - Head Coach Benaud Shirley

"There were a lot of good performances this weekend, but Sommer's was probably the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. I knew she was ready, but that was something special," Brett Guemmer on Sommer Herner's performance.

TEAM STANDINGS
Men