Bethel’s All-American Count Climbs to Four on Day Two in Gulf Shores
Another successful day on the track has put the BC men’s track and field program in a top-four position on the leaderboard at the 2017 NAIA National Championships. With two more all-American performances, the Pilots have scored 17 total points and sit fourth out of the 46 teams who have scored in the first two days of competition. With 10 points, the Bethel women find themselves in 13th place overall in the field of 44 teams.
Senior Elias Micozzi ended his career on a high note by taking national runner-up honors in the men’s discus. With a toss of 54.29 meters, the South Bend native nabbed second place in the field of 30 throwers, finishing behind Derek Seddon from William Penn. His runner-up title also garners him all-American status, which is his third straight all-American performance in the men’s discus. Bethel landed a second NAIA All-American on day two thanks to a solid finish in the men’s decathlon by Philip Fox. Fox bettered his school record with a ten-event total of 6,427 points, which landed him in eighth place overall.
Also competing for the Pilots on Friday was Ryan Jones who took 24th in the long jump with a mark of 6.76 meters and the men’s 4×400-meter relay team of Brett Baumgartner, Conner Sowders, Alex Moses and Travis Sperry. With a record-setting time of 3:12.72, the relay squad will enter tomorrow’s final as the fourth seed.
Tomorrow marks the final day in Gulf Shores. The day will begin with Jarrett Wolbolt and Jordan Annis running the marathon at 6:00 a.m. Other Pilots who will be in action will be Kyle Ostrander in the shot put, Joel Hartman in the steeplechase, the men’s 4×100 relay team and the men’s 4×400 relay team.
Men’s Results
Decathlon
8th Philip Fox – 6,427 – All-American
Long Jump
24th Ryan Jones – 6.76
Discus
2nd Elias Micozzi – 54.29 – National Runner-Up & All-American