Concordia University senior Junia Limage broke her own school record in the 800-meter run while winning the NAIA indoor national championships in the event Saturday at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
The Fort Vancouver High School graduate posted a winning time of 2 minutes, 11.39 seconds to fend off Lee University’s Cayce Bryan for the national crown. Bryan leaned across the line in 2:11.84 to edge third-place finisher Hannah Helker of Oklahoma Baptist by 0.03 seconds.
“Junia has been progressing towards this moment for 2 years and it was such a great accomplishment for her,” Concordia coach Randy Dalzell told gocugo.com. “We told her she had better speed and was in better shape than anyone else in the race and that no matter how the race unfolded, she could win it.
“About halfway through, the girl from OBU took off and Junia followed and used a great kick down the finishing stretch.”
Limage entered the finals with a seed time of 2:11.59, the second-best time in the prelims to Bryan’s 2:11.43. Helker entered the championship site with the NAIA’s top overall time at 2:09.85.
Limage’s victory was good for 10 of Concordia’s 30 team points as the Cavaliers placed eighth, the best finish in program history.
The Cavaliers have improved upon their team standings in each of the past four seasons, including breaking into the top 10 last year in ninth place.
Limage also was part of Concordia’s fifth-place finish in the distance medley relay, running the third leg covering 800 meters later Saturday after winning her individual title.
The quartet finished in 12:14.97, garnering four team points.
Dixson double NAIA indoor All-American
Concordia University junior Gabi Dixson earned All-America status at the NAIA indoor national championships held at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Dixson, who competed for Battle Ground High School, placed sixth in the weight throw on Friday.She launched an effort of 55 feet, 10 inches on her third attempt for her best mark of the day.
Dixson entered the meet ranked fifth in the NAIA this season with a best mark of 56-8, a distance that would have given the junior a third-place finish.
On Saturday, she posted a fourth-place result in the shot put with a heave of 45-7 on her fifth of six attempts. Despite missing out on her season-best throw of 46-6, Dixson matched her No. 4 ranking with the effort.
“Gabi had a nice double for us,” Concordia coach Randy Dalzell told gocugo.com. “I think she was disappointed in not getting personal records, but she provided important points for the team this weekend.”
Bruins advance to NCAA-III Sweet 16
Keisha Gordon scored a game-high 18 points on 12-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line, and had a crucial layup and steal in the final 34 seconds as George Fox University defeated Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark 52-50 in the NCAA Division III West Regional basketball final Saturday in Newberg, Ore.
Gordon, a Heritage High School graduate and the NWC Player of the Year, scored 14 points in the Bruins’ 58-35 victory over California Lutheran in the opening round Friday.
The Bruins (29-0), ranked No. 3 in NCAA-III, are four wins away from a second undefeated championship season in four years.
Clark plays Bowdoin College (21-7) of Brunswick, Maine, at 2 p.m. Friday in the Round of 16 at Fredericksburg, Va. Lebanon Valley College of Annville, Pa., will meet host University of Mary Washington in the other semifinal.
The Sectional Championship game will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, with the winner advancing to the Final Four.
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