Austin hits NAIA National 'B' Standard, finishes second in discus throw to lead SSU men's outdoor track and field to third place at UCKY Early Spring Meet
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. -- The efforts of Shawnee State men's throwing talent Alan Austin are never anything short of his best.
It's allowed the sophomore from Piketon to become one of the most well-respected throwers in the country -- and has Austin squarely in the hunt to be a national championship threat in the future.
A 2024 NAIA National Championship Qualifier in the discus as a freshman who finished 10th overall in the event back in May of last year, the work that Austin has put in to improve on that performance showed from the opening throw in the discus event at the Cumberlands (Ky.) Early Spring Meet.
Austin, who threw a 49.33 meter, or 161-foot, 10-inch throw at the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in May, bettered that mark off the rip in the opening meet of the 2025 outdoor track and field season by posting a NAIA National B' Standard throw and a new personal best mark of 49.60 meters -- 162 feet, nine inches -- Friday at the Cumberlands (Ky.) Early Spring Meet, which was held at James H. Taylor, II Stadium in Williamsburg, Ky.
From the outset, Austin proved to be more than up to the task to setting a NAIA National 'B' Standard and booking his national championship trip to Marion, Ind. for a second straight season -- as Austin threw no worse than 47.9 meters on each of his first four throws. His massive third and fourth tosses of 49.6 and 49.56 meters not only showcased the power in which Austin has, but the consistency that the sophomore has developed -- which is a sight that will have Austin certainly among the best in the NAIA.
Heading into the heart of the weekend, Austin currently holds a shot put mark that ranks second nationally in the NAIA -- as only Christopher Johnson of Stillman (Ala.) holds a better mark that Austin does as of today.
"Alan setting the 'B' Standard in the opening meet is impressive, and shows that he hasn't missed a step," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "He has prepared himself for this season, and we know that he has even more in him."
Following Austin, Shawnee State, as per tradition, racked up the points in distance running events -- in particular behind a great effort from Trevor Lanoy.
Lanoy, who set two personal best times in the 800 meter run and 1,500 meter run with times of 1:57.09 and 4:02.48 between both events, combined for 13 points on his own on the day. Trevor blistered past his previous personal best en route to going under two minutes in the 800 meters for the first time at Shawnee State en route to setting a personal best time by over five-and-a-half seconds in the event, then placed fourth in the 1,500 with the aforementioned 4:02.48 in that event.
Shawnee State, who already got 23 points between the above two individuals, then got 19 more points in just the 5,000 meter run event alone -- as Isaiah Lanoy (15:03.20), Kaiden Lanoy (15:08.23), Dylan French (15:21.42) and Jerry O'Dell (16:19.36) finished second, fourth, fifth and seventh respectively. The men's 4-by-100 meter relay unit of Cody Hesler, Bailey White, Davin Heckard and Garrett McKinniss then added in eight points -- and a new school record -- with a second-place time of 43.23 in that event.
In sprints, McKinniss added in a sixth place finish with a 23.03 in the 200 meter dash, and in additional field event competitions, Connor Ignacio and Landon Roberts each scored in the javelin throw as Ignacio's 147-foot, 10-inch mark and Roberts' 110-foot, four-inch showing placed the duo third and seventh, respectively -- capping off the scoring for Shawnee State.
