Trailblazer Track and Field brings home some hardware from Outdoor Nationals

Levelland, Tex. – The Vincennes University Track and Field teams put the finishing touches on their 2021 outdoor season with another strong showing at Nationals at South Plains College in Texas.

Sophomore pole vaulter Matteo Capello successfully defended his National Championship from Indoor season, taking the outdoor crown after reaching a height of 5.40 meters. Setting a new NJCAA Outdoor Nationals record.

Capello was joined on the podium by his teammate Cole Sumner, who placed third at 4.70 meters. Matthew Frazier also placed eighth with a height of 4.30 meters.

Women's pole vaulter Makinzi Meurer finished second at Nationals after setting a mark of 3.55 meters.

Anthony Campbell came away with a fifth-place finish in the men's high jump after jumping 2.03 meters and Ryan Golliher's throw of 50.19 in the hammer was good for a six-place finish.

Meagan Moreno came away with a pair of seventh-place finishes in the 5000-meter and 10000-meter races. Setting a time of 18:56.42 in the 5k and 40:16.10 in the 10k.

Chase Knoblett earned 5671 points in the men's decathlon, good for a ninth-place finish.

The women's 4 x 400-meter relay team of Chloe Knepp, Kaitlyn Koenig, Jacy Collins and Kyra Young finished 14th, with a time of 4:31.17. Young also competed in the women's 1500-meter race and finished 14th as well with a time of 5:05.83.

Eddie Garcia rounded out the Trailblazer performances at Nationals, coming away with 16th place in the men's discus, setting a mark of 41.60 meters.

"It was a successful trip for VU Track and Field," VU T&F head coach Chris Gafner said. "The pole vault crew came up big and dominated the meet. Anthony Campbell had a banner day in the high jump, finishing fifth with a new personal best."

"Meagan Moreno had a great meet finishing seventh in her first ever 10k and coming back in just two days to place seventh in the 5k."

"Ryan Golliher finished top-six for the first time in the hammer throw and Chase Knoblett had a personal best in the decathlon, just missing the podium."

Vincennes will return home with a few individual awards as well as Matteo Capello was named the Atlantic Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year.

VU head coach Chris Gafner received the Atlantic Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year award and Assistant Coach Tim Marsee received the Atlantic Region Assistant Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year award.

"I'm happy with the outdoor campaign," Gafner added. "We put in the work and overcame the adversities of the pandemic to reach our goals. It has been a long year, but a fulfilling one."