Three NCAA All-Americans, HL Title Sweep Highlight 2023 Outdoor Season

Three NCAA All-Americans, HL Title Sweep Highlight 2023 Outdoor Season

6/13/2023 8:56:00 AM | Track and Field

2023 Outdoor Top Times and Records

During the 2023 outdoor season, the Youngstown State men's and women's track and field teams continued conference-dominating performances at the Horizon League Championships while also receiving national recognition as a record three Penguins earned All-America honors while 10 had top-22 finishes at the NCAA prelims.

Following regular-season action, the Penguins sent 12 athletes to the NCAA East Preliminary Round including Erin Bogard (pole vault), Jahniya Bowers (100m), Addi Watts (javelin), Wyatt Lefker (pole vault), Dorian Chaigneau (pole vault), Jakari Lomax (triple jump), Zach Gehm (discus), Weston McLain (javelin), Tye Hunt (long jump), Dominic Perry (shot put), Harry Barton (400m hurdles) and Ryan Henry (shot put).

NCAA Highlights

Dorian Chaigneau capped off an amazing double All-American year by placing 12^th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He finished ninth at the NCAA Indoor Championships. At the NCAA Outdoor meet, he cleared a season-best 5.45m to finish in 12^th. It was the second-best all-time finish by a YSU athlete in the meet. It was the second straight year that the Guins had pole vaulter advance to the NCAA meet.
In his first NCAA Championship appearance, Zach Gehm narrowly missed second-team All-America honors placing 17^th. On his second attempt, Gehm had an impressive throw of 57.12 meters.
In her first NCAA Championship appearance, Erin Bogard set a school-record for top finish by a women's athlete when she placed 19^th in the pole vault. Bogard cleared a height of 4.00m at the meet.
All three Penguins women who were part of the NCAA East Prelims all finished in the top 22. Bogard was 11th in the pole vault, Jahniya Bowers was 16^th in the 100m dash and Addi Watts was 22^nd in the javelin. Bogard was making her third straight NCAA prelims appearance while Watts and Bowers made their debuts.
For the men, seven of the nine placed in the top 22 at the NCAA East Prelims.
Chaigneau placed fourth in the pole vault with a mark of 5.40m and Gehm was ninth in the discus with a throw of 56.94m to advance.
In the long jump, Tye Hunt finished 13^th with a leap of 7.48m and was just 0.01m from reaching the NCAA Championships. In the pole vault, Wyatt Lefker finished 14^th by clearing the bar at 5.30m.
YSU had a pair of 18^th-place finishes in two other throwing events. In the shot put, Dominic Perry had throw of 18.44m to place 18^th while Weston McLain had throw of 67.05m in the javelin to finish 18^th.
The lone running participant, Harry Barton finished 21st in his NCAA debut in the 400m hurdles. He advanced to the quarterfinals in the event.

Record-Breaking Performances

Bogard ended her third straight season as the program's record holder in the pole vault, clearing 4.20m at the Harrison Dillard Twilight meet hosted by Baldwin-Wallace in May. She entered the year with the record of 4.05m before adding to her total.
In her second to last race for the Guins, Jahniya Bowers ran a blazing 11.22 seconds in the 100m to set the school record. Bowers placed second in her heat at the meet to advance the quarterfinals.
Nia Williams-Matthews pushed her triple jump record out to 12.54m at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on April 1. She broke the record of 12.43m that had stood since 2011.
Ryan Meadows set the lone men's running record of the campaign. At the Virginia Challenge on April 21, Meadows became the first Penguin to run under 14 minutes in the 5,000m posting a time of 13:59.72.
Jakari Lomax extended his school record in the triple jump to 15.73m. He entered the year with a mark of 15.49m before destroying it at the Miami Alumni Invitational.
Wyatt Lefker owned the school record of 5.29m entering the year and by the end of the year extended it out to 5.51m, which is over 18 feet. That mark came at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on April 1.
Zach Gehm added to his mark in the discus with a throw of 58.69m at the Jesse Owens Classic. Gehm had the record of 58.02m which was at the Tennessee Relays last year.
Weston McLain claimed the school record in the javelin in 2023 with a eventual throw of 67.05m. McLain's final season-best effort came at the NCAA East Prelims. He broke the record that had stood since 2019 with an effort of 66.99m at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational on April 1.

League Honors

Men's Champions – Wyatt Lefker (pole vault), Dominic Perry (shot put), Harry Barton (400m Hurdles), Zach Gehm (discus), Lonnie Harper (high jump), Weston McLain (javelin), Jakari Lomax (triple jump) and Luke Laubacher (110m hurdles).
Men's Runner-Up Finishes – Ryan Meadows (10,000m), Tyler Clark (1,500m), Dorian Chaigneau (pole vault), Keegan Barnette (steeplechase), Ryan Henry (shot put), Mason Stephens (high jump).
Women's Champions – Nia Williams-Matthews (triple jump), Jahniya Bowers (100m, 200m), Morgan Cole (5,000m/10,000m), Molly Radcliffe (Hammer Throw), Addi Watts (javelin), Erin Bogard (pole vault) and 4x100m.
Women's Runner-Up Finishes – Olivia Jones (high jump, javelin, heptathlon), Radcliffe (discus), Lauren Sheehan (shot put) and Esther Solarin (triple jump).
Men's Award Winners – Wyatt Lefker (co-Outstanding Field Performer), Harry Barton (Running Freshman of the Meet), Blake Sifferlin (Field Freshman of the Meet), Brian Gorby (Co-Coach of the Year)
Women's Award Winners – Jahniya Bowers (Outstanding Running Performer), Molly Radcliffe (Outstanding Field Performer), Brian Gorby (Co-Coach of the Year)

Men's Horizon League Championship Notes

The men's team raced to their fourth straight league title and seventh overall, scoring the third-highest point total in program history with 252 points and winning by a 62-point margin.
Won eight event titles (pole vault, shot put, 110m hurdles, high jump, 400m hurdles, discus, javelin, triple jump) and had six runner-up performances.
The Penguins never trailed during the meet winning the first two events and maintaining the lead throughout the three days.
YSU scored at least 200 points for the sixth straight event.
Lefker won his fourth straight pole vault title – a first-ever at the HL meet. Perry won his third consecutive shot put title. Lomax won his third straight triple jump championship – a first-ever at the HL meet. Gehm won his second straight discus title while Laubacher won his second consecutive 110m hurdles crown.
YSU has won six straight 100m hurdle titles.
YSU has won six straight pole vault titles.
YSU has won six straight javelin titles.
Harry Barton became just the third Penguin to win the 400m hurdles.
Brian Gorby was named the Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career

Women's Horizon League Championship Notes

The women captured their ninth consecutive title and 15th overall. It marked the sixth time in six tries they won the event as the host institution.
The Guins scored 203.25 points, their fewest in a victory since 2016.
YSU won nine event titles (100m, 200m, 5,000m, 10,000m, hammer throw, javelin, pole vault, triple jump and 4x100m relay).
Posted runner-up finishes in the triple jump, javelin, high jump, discus, heptathlon and shot put.
Cole won her third consecutive 5,000m title while taking her second straight 10,000m race at the HL Meet. She's the first Horizon League athlete to take three straight 5,000m titles.
Cole is the first runner to win back-to-back 10,000m titles since 2011-12.
Bowers won her second career 100m and 200m titles with the previous wins coming back in 2021.
Bogard collected her third straight Horizon League title in the pole vault.
First-time winners were Radcliffe, Williams-Matthews, Watts.
YSU has won 12 straight Horizon League 100m and 200m races dating back to 2011.
The Guins have won six of the last eight 4x100m relays.
YSU has won the last six javelin titles.
Coach Brian Gorby received Coach of the Year honors for the ninth straight meet and the 15th time overall.