Kammler qualifies for national finals in 5,000 meter run; Austin, Moore finish in top-12 nationally in discus
Forget one of the greatest athletes in Shawnee State history -- one of the greatest athletes in NAIA history will get a well-deserved opportunity to finish his career on the highest of high notes.
Meanwhile, two freshmen throwers showed their abilities in spades Thursday evening themselves -- and their potential in future seasons ahead.
Senior distance running talent Aiden Kammler made the 5,000 meter run semifinals look like a breeze Thursday, as the harrier's time of 14:37.92 was good for third overall and proved to be a national final qualifying time with ease, while freshmen Alan Austin and Justin Moore performed well above their national placements with Austin nabbing a personal best throw of 161 feet, 10 inches to finish 10th and Moore collecting a 159-foot, five-inch toss to collect a 12th place showing on the second day of the three-day NAIA Men's Track and Field National Championships, which is being held at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.
Running Highlights: Kammler
Kammler, who has finished as the NAIA National Runner-Up in each of the last two NAIA Track and Field National Championship meets in the 5,000 -- the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in Marion, Ind. and the 2024 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Brookings, S.D. -- led for three laps and never sat outside the top five in the first heat, which was the fastest of the three heats.
Kammler, along with freshmen Youssef Asslouj from Cumberlands and Mason Weisgerber from Southern Oregon and fellow senior Luke Pohl of Indiana Wesleyan, were the only four runners of the the 38 harriers to take part in the 5,000 to run under a 14:40 in the event. They are each among the main threats of a 16-runner field that will compete for NAIA National Championship accolades.
Throwing Highlights: Austin, Moore
In the discus, Austin, who was 21st overall nationally coming into the event, and Moore, who was 19th heading into Thursday's discus final, each impressed greatly against their competition.
Austin, who had previously thrown a personal best of 49.22 meters, or 161 feet, six inches, surpassed his personal best at the best time, throwing a strong 49.33-meter, or 161-foot, 10-inch throw, to set a new standard for himself and cap his freshman season off with a bang. Austin did this on the third and final attempt that the freshman ultimately got Thursday evening.
The Piketon product ultimately finished just one inch short of qualifying for the ninth position necessary to be a part of a throwoff that the top-nine throwers in the event, who get three additional throws to decide the national champion, participate in -- but Austin finished 11 spots above his national placement with Thursday's performance.
Ultimately, Austin set a personal best in the discus, shot put, and javelin throw in four out of the final eight meets of the season, including the following events:
Discus: 161 feet, six inches
Shot put: 44 feet, one-and-a-half inches
Javelin throw: 120 feet, seven inches
As for Moore, the Valley hurler launched a 48.59-meter, or 159-foot, five-inch throw on the first of his three throws to nab a 12th-place performance. Moore finished seven spots above his own national placement heading into Thursday's discus final.
The 2024 River States Conference Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, Moore has also set a personal best in four out of his final eight meets of the year with Friday's shot put still remaining for a chance to increase that mark to five out of eight. Moore has set personal bests in the following:
Discus: 162 feet, five inches
Shot put: 54 feet, 10 inches
Hammer throw: 139 feet, four inches
Additional
The Shawnee State men's and women's track and field programs will be represented Friday afternoon by three different individuals between both programs to close out the three-day NAIA National Championships at Indiana Wesleyan.
Haidyn Wamsley will kick things off at 2 p.m. as the multi-sport athlete competes in the women's high jump finals, while Moore will begin competing in the men's shot put finals at 3 p.m. Kammler closes the deal for Shawnee State when the senior competes in what will be his last race as a collegiate athlete in the men's 5,000 meter run finals at 4:55 p.m.
For more information on SSU Bears Athletics, visit www.ssubears.com or visit the Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages at https://twitter.com/