Kaumba Wins National Championship in 10,000 Meters

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Oklahoma Baptist University's Miriam Kaumba was the highlight of the day for the Bison track teams, capturing a national championship in the women's 10,000 meters.

Delayed by rain until the second day of competition, Kaumba covered the distance in 36:49.59, out-running Petrana Petkova of Central Methodist by more than eight seconds. It is the second national championship this school year for Kaumba, a junior from Zambia. She also captured the NAIA cross country national championship in November.

The rain delay will also play on Kaumba's try for a national championship in the 5,000 meters. Because of the adjusted schedule, there will be no preliminary round in the 5,000 meters, meaning Kaumba will have one less race to run. She will be trying to finish in 16:30, a mark that would qualify her for her nation's Olympic Trials.

At the end of Day Two, OBU's men are ninth in the team standings with 16 points and the women are 11th with 13 points.

Pat Brown, another OBU athlete with Olympic aspirations, could not overcome his arch injury in the men's 110 high hurdles, finishing second in 13.99 seconds, nine-one hundredths of a second behind Mid-America Nazarene's Dwayne Robinson. Brown will try for a national title Saturday in the 400 hurdles after winning his semifinal Friday in 51.59. Isa Phillips of Wayland Baptist has the only faster time coming into the finals.

The men's 4x800 team of Dave Sitzer, Michael Elizondo, Landon Willets and Travis Pearman finished second with a time of 7:26.98. All four runners won All-America honors.

OBU's 4x400 relay failed to qualify for the finals for the second time in 16 years, finishing 49 one-hundredths of a second off the pace.

The OBU women finished second in their heat of the 4x400 with Keyonna Hornbuckle, Melissa Mount, Chandra Huckabay and Kyli Bean moving on to the semifinals in 3:50.69.

The women's 4x800 relay finished sixth with a time of 9:11.81 turned in by Melissa Mount, Chandra Huckabay, Andrea Mount and Kyta Ferrer. The four earned All-America honors.

Ferrer finished second in her semifinal of the women's 800 meters, coming in at 2:15.08. Her mark is the fourth-fastest going into the finals.

Hornbuckle also moved on to the finals, winning her semifinal of the 400 hurdles in 1:01.6. Hers is the second-best time going into the title race.

In other finals from Friday, Becky Hamm finished 18th in the triple jump at 36-2.25 feet, Mike Chavez was 23rd in the javelin at 170-9, and Deena Almohandis was 18th in the long jump at 17-6.75.

OBU's Friday Finals

Women's 10,000 Meters - National Champion - Miriam Kaumba, 36:49.59

Women's 4x800 Relay - 6. Melissa Mount, Chandra Huckabay, Andrea Mount, Kyta Ferrer, 9:11.81

Women's Triple Jump - 18. Becky Hamm, 36-2.25

Women's Long Jump - 18. Deena Almohandis, 17-6.75

Men's 110 High Hurdles - 2. Pat Brown, 13.99

Men's 4x800 Relay - 2. Dave Sitzer, Michael Elizondo, Landon Willets, Travis Pearman, 7:26.98

Men's Javelin - 23. Miek Chavez, 170-9

Saturday

6:30 a.m. - Men's Marathon (Daniel Ellis)

1:30 p.m. - Men's Triple Jump FINALS (Dominique Chan Low)

2 p.m. - Women's Steeplechase FINALS (Kari Nunneley)

3 p.m. - Men's Discus FINALS (Jeremiah Campo)

4 p.m. - Women's 400 Hurdles FINALS (Keyonna Hornbuckle)

4:10 p.m. - Men's 400 Hurdles FINALS (Pat Brown)

4:40 p.m. - Women's 800m FINALS (Kyta Ferrer)

5:20 p.m. - Women's 5000m FINALS (Miriam Kaumba)

6 p.m. - Women's 4x400 Relay FINALS (Keyonna Hornbuckle, Melissa Mount, Chandra Huckaby, Kyle Bean)