Hilton's Decathlon Title Lifts Bison
Oklahoma Baptist University's second day at the three-day NAIA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships had some more bad news and a few more bright spots, including the right to claim the NAIA's Greatest Athlete with Jonathan Hilton winning the NAIA decathlon.
Hilton, who won the event without winning any of the 10 contests, entered the second day of the event in second place and actually dropped to third after one of his strongest events - the hurdles, was in the books. He was third in the hurdles at 15.42 and placed fourth in the discus with a toss of 122-11. He placed third in the javelin with a throw of 181-10 and came close to winning the decisive 1500 meters with a second place time of 4:31.48.
With two events left, Hilton trailed David Pichler of Azusa Pacific and Lucas Ohmes of Eastern Oregon by more than 100 points. Hilton's javelin throw moved him forward of Pichler and within 81 points of Ohmes.
"Jonathan just hung around there and never gave up," said OBU coach Ford Mastin. "He's always going to be talked about now when we're trying to inspire people. He's a great never-give-up story."
"Coach Mastin had me working on the 1500," said Hilton. "He always preached that we needed to work on that because it might come down to that. I thought I had had it after the pole vault. I thought that if I made up a lot of the difference, it would just be for second because the pole vault is my last 'good' event. If it were to come down to the 1500 I just wanted to go all out and win it because getting second - well it's runner-up. When I got second last year it sucked. I'd almost rather get sixth than second because you wonder if there is something else that could have been done."
Hilton gained 735 points for his strong finish in the 1500, beating Ohmes by almost 25 seconds to make his only lead of the event the only lead he needed. His 7,012 points came just 17 shy of Mark Elliston's 1986 school record of 7,029. Elliston is OBU's only other national decathlon champion.
"That was a personal best for Jonathan in the 1500 by ore than 20 seconds," said Mastin. "There's a guy that really wanted to win. And even more incredible than that was that javelin. He threw it more than 12 feet further than he's ever thrown it before."
"We worked on the javelin a little bit Monday and I threw it well, so I felt good about that," said Hilton.
The news wasn't all glorious for OBU. After losing Dominique Matthews on the first day, the Bison lost T.J. Lightsey to a hamstring injury on Friday. Lightsey pulled up lame just past the first 100 meters of the men's 400. After hitting the deck, he got back up and finished the race on a jog that drew a strong round of applause from the fans in the stands.
In efforts to avoid the injury from crippling the spirits, OBU had some strong finishes.
Lamar Baskin got the Bison on the scoreboard with his second-place finish in the 110 high hurdles. Baskin, who won last year in 14.32, ran a 14.27 this year.
Prophet Bailey, A.J. Carter, Billy Christy and Durrell Williams earned All-America honors with a second-place finish in the 4x800 relay. Carter gave OBU a temporary lead in the second leg and Christy held off a challenge in the third leg. Williams went out strong but a big kick in the final 200 meters by Iowa Wesleyan was a hair too strong for the Bison, who finished at 7:33.84.
That relay gave OBU 26 points heading into the final day Saturday.
Nicole Cummins got the lady Bison on the scoreboard with a sixth place in the triple jump, spanning 30-10.75. Cummins was seeded 12th in the event and has scored the only points for OBU through Day Two.
Marissa Moseley advanced to the finals of the women's 400 meters with the best time in the semis, a 54.37.
In the women's 400 hurdles, Sherene Pinnock was ticketed to the finals with a top time of 58.71. Optimum Baker was fourth in the same heat at 1:02.73 and advanced to the finals as the No. 7 runner.
In the men's 400 hurdles, Tracey Drew advanced to the finals with a second place in his heat at 52.32. Ross Harlan missed the finals with a 52.88, finishing sixth in his heat. Baskin was second in the second heat, qualifying for the finals in 52.39 seconds.
Both the Bison and Lady Bison 4x100 squads moved to the finals by winning their heats. The women won in 46.60 and the Bison won theirs in 40.88 seconds.
The Lady Bison 4x400 relay team of Moseley, Baker, Andrea Melontree and Pinnock won their heat in 3:51.23 to qualify for the finals. The men's 4x400 of Bradley Jimerson, Ethan Mignard, Drew and Derek Nettles won its heat in 3:15.60, with a big effort by Drew. Drew was forced into the rail on the first turn and recovered from fourth place to hand off to Nettles with a lead. Nettles maintained the lead for OBU despite a good challenge he never saw behind him.
Durrell Williams qualified in the men's 800 meters, taking third in his heat at 1:51.87. Justin Duncan was eighth in that same heat at 1:54.84, and ended his stay in the event.
Olabusomi Bashorun was sixth in his heat of the 100 meters in 10.89 seconds and did not qualify for the finals.
The meet concludes Saturday.
OBU Friday Finals
Men
Decathlon - 1. Jonathan Hilton, 7,012
110 Hurdles - 2. Lamar Baskin, 14.27
4x800 Relay - 2. Prophet Bailey, A.J. Carter, Billy Christy, Lamar Baskin, 7:33.84
Women
Triple Jump - 6. Nicole Cummins, 30-10.75
OBU's Saturday Schedule
6 a.m. - Men's and Women's Marathon FINAL (Lance Goodwin, Becca Murdoch, Jessica Herbert)
1 p.m. - Men's Pole Vault FINAL - Seth Brown
2:40 p.m. - Women's 4x100 Relay FINAL
2:50 p.m. - Men's 4x100 Relay FINAL
3:10 p.m. Men's 1500 FINAL (Justin Stroup)
3:20 p.m. - Women's 200 Semis (Sherene Pinnock)
3:30 p.m. - Men's 200 Semis (Ethan Mignard, Derek Nettles)
3:50 p.m. - Women's 400 Hurdles FINAL (Sherene Pinnock, Optimum Baker)
4 p.m. - Men's 400 Hurdles FINAL (Tracey Drew, Lamar Baskin)
4:40 p.m. - Men's 800 FINALS (Durrell Williams)
4:50 p.m. - Women's 200 FINALS (Sherene Pinnock)
5 p.m. - Men's 200 FINALS (Ethan Mignard, Derek Nettles)
5:50 p.m. - Women's 4x400 Relay
6:05 p.m. - Men's 4x400 Relay