WAYNE, Neb. – At least 25 members of the Chadron State College track and field teams improved their season-best marks at Wayne State's Wildcat Indoor Classic on Saturday, as Chadron State boasted six individual event champions.

Four Eagle men and two women were among event winners while the same number of each, four men and two women, were event runners-up. The meet drew athletes from six institutions.

Sophomore Chayton Bynes was once again among the headliners, winning the triple jump event with a season-best leap of 15.71 meters, or 51 feet, 6 ½ inches. Bynes added nine inches to what was already the second-best triple jump this winter in NCAA Division II. It still ranks second, but is only 7 ¼ inches shy of the longest mark, which belongs to Donte Dockery of Wilmington University in Delaware. Only two other DII triple jumpers have gone more than 50 feet this winter.  

Bynes's jump Saturday also put him within two inches of the CSC record that was set by Isaac Grimes in 2019 when Grimes earned the silver medal at the NCAA II National Indoor Championships. 

In addition to winning the triple jump during Saturday's meet, Bynes was second in the long jump, going 22-4 ½. Head Coach Jake Gruver said that while Bynes's triple jump was the Eagles' highlight because of its national impact, nearly all 45 of the CSC team members had a good day.

"It was a really good meet for us," Gruver said. "We're headed in the right direction." 

The remaining three CSC men who won events did so with plenty of room to spare. Senior Creighton Trembly cleared the 60-meter hurdles in 8.22 seconds, 0.18 in front of the nearest challenger. Freshman Wyatt Bly won the 3000 meters in 8:36.08, the fourth fastest time all-time at CSC and 19 seconds ahead of the race's runner-up. And, junior Blaine Johnson's winning time of 16:02.41 in the 5000 was nearly a full minute faster than the next finisher.  

The two Chadron State women to win did so in the shortest and the longest women's races with their career-bests. Shantae Morgan won the 60 meters, which had 18 entries, in 7.86 seconds and Alissa Wieman finished first in the 3000 in 10:18.60, her fastest time ever by more than five seconds. 

Two more CSC women, Lydia Peters and Samantha Rodewald, were second and third in the 3000, also running career-bests to give CSC a sweep of the podium. Sophomore Eva Nitschke ran a season-best time of 26.59 while placing second in the 200 and also finished third in the hurdles. 

Six CSC men had career-best times in the 200 meters, led by sophomore Ryan Clapper's 21.88 that was good for second place and is the fourth fastest in CSC history. Junior Esosa Iyengunmwena was the runner-up in the 60 meters and also took fourth in the 200, which had 26 entries.  

A pair of CSC seniors had their best marks of the season while finishing second and fourth in the 35-pound weight throw. Christopher Jennings was the runner-up at 60-8 ½ and Parker Gonser hit 57-5, three feet farther than his previous best.

Junior Nate Mann took second in the mile run, that drew 16 runners, in 4:29.90, just two seconds off his career best.   

Next weekend, the Eagles will enter the South Dakota State Indoor Classic and on Saturday, Feb. 22, they will host the Golden Eagle Last Chance Meet, a week prior to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships in Colorado Springs.    
        
The Eagles' top-six placings at Wayne State follow: 

Men's Events
              60 meters—2, Esosa Iyengunmwena, 6.92.
              200—2, Ryan Clapper, 21.88.4; 4, Esosa Iyengunmwena, 22.09; 5, Christopher Cormier, 22.23; 6, Nicquaine Henry, 22.23.
              400—4, Greg Logsdon, 50.91; 5, Diego Perez, 51.18.
              Mile—2, Nate Mann, 4:29.90.
              3000—1, Wyatt Bly, 8:36.08; 4, Kyle Shirley, 9:00.10.
              5000—1, Blaine Johnson, 16:02.41.
              60 hurdles—1, Creighton Trembly, 8.22.
              Shot put—5, Parker Gonser, 48-9 ½. 
              Weight throw—2, Christopher Jennings, 60-8 ½; 3-4 tie, Parker Gonser, 57-5. 
              Long jump—2, Chayton Bynes, 22-4 ½.
              Triple jump—1, Chayton Bynes, 51-6 ½.
              Pole vault—5, Triston Hite, 11-5 ¾.

Women's Results
              60 meters—1, Shantae Morgan, 7.86
              200—2, Eva Nitschke, 26.59.
              800—4, Ivy Hise, 2:44.92; 5, Zelma Rudd, 3:03.24.
              3000—1, Alissa Wieman, 10:18.60.2; Lydia Peters, 10:46.67; 3, Samantha Rodewald, 10:50.54; 6, Katelyn Beshara, 11:11.35.
              60 hurdles—3, Eva Nitschke, 9:40.
              Shot put—5, Morgan Ekwall, 39-8.
              Pole vault—4, Madison Clause, 10-6.