March 11, 2006

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Missouri Baptist University women's track & field team set a new NAIA Indoor Championship Meet record by accumulating a 172 team points at the 2006 SunTrust-NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.  Lindenwood University (Mo.) captured the men's title as 10 records fell in all on final day of competition.

 

Missouri Baptist's 172 team points broke the previous record of 149 points set by Jackson State (Miss.) at the first NAIA women's indoor meet held in 1981.  Simon Fraser University (B.C.) was second with 92 points and Oklahoma Baptist University finished third at 82 points.  Six women's NAIA indoor meet records were set, as Julia Howard, a senior from Simon Fraser, broke her own mark in the 1000 meters at 2:48.69. Other indoor meet record setters included junior Kyli Bean from Oklahoma Baptist University in the women's 600 meters (1:32.35); freshman Margaret Nakintu of Missouri Baptist in the 800 meters (2:07.87); senior Miriam Kaumba from Oklahoma Baptist in the 3000 meters (9:30.06) and freshman Latoya Heath from Lindenwood in the triple jump (13.0 meters).

 

Lindenwood took home the men's team title by accumulating 94.5 points, followed by Virginia Intermont College with 81 points and Dickinson State University (N.D.) with 68 points.  Four new men's NAIA indoor meet records were set on the afternoon as the Dickinson State 1600 meter relay team won their event in a time of 3:11.99.  Other indoor meet record setters included junior Tony Ramirez from Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) in the 400 meter dash (47.31); sophomore Elkana Chepsiror from Virgina Intermont in the 600 meters (1:17.86); and sophomore Julius Rono from Roberts Wesleyan College (N.Y.) in the 1000 meters (2:23.09).

 

Scott Simmons of Virginia Intermont was named the Men's National Coach of the Year and Vincet Bingham from Missouri Baptist was named the Women's National Coach of the Year.  For more information and a complete listing of results, visit the NAIA's website at www.naia.org.

 

Outstanding Men's Performer - Trevor Barry, Dickinson State (N.D.)
Outstanding Women's Performer - Margaret Nakintu, Missouri Baptist