By: Cody Wright
GENEVA, Ohio – Amblessed Okemgbo and Devyn Chelin both scored to lead Whitworth on Thursday's day one of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Okemgbo placed second in the women's discus to earn first-team All-America honors for the second consecutive season. She made just one successful throw in her first three tries due to a pair of fouls, but her second hurl of 41.59 meters (136'-5") was enough to push her into the finals. Her fifth throw of 45.95 meters (150'-9") secured a second place finish, four places better than her performance last season. Charlotte Frere of Augustana (Ill.) threw 48.35 meters (158'-7") to win her second straight discus championship.
Chelin, a sophomore, scored in the women's javelin and earned All-America status for the first time in her career. She finished seventh with a throw of 40.48 meters (132'-10"), a distance reached on her first attempt. The top eight places of any event score points and earn first-team All-America recognition.
Eddie Vu represented the Bucs with a 10th place finish in men's discus, the first event of the day. Vu's mark was 47.31 meters (155'-2"), just 0.19 meters away from the finals.
After a national championship in the men's javelin last season, Cody Wheeler was unable to repeat the same success. He placed 22nd with a first attempt distance of 52.75 meters (173').
On the track, Emily Brown finished 11th in the women's 400-meter hurdle preliminaries. Her time of 1:02.41 was just .06 seconds away from ninth place and a chance to compete in the finals on Saturday.
Three Pirates will compete on Friday. Brianna Tira will compete in the women's high jump and Madison Carr will join Okemgbo in the women's shot put.
