Oklahoma Baptist University's Bison and Lady Bison track teams both placed fourth in the NAIA National Championships that concluded Saturday with OBU picking up national championships in six events.
Both OBU 4x400 teams maintained their reputation as best in the nation, defending their national championships.
Clint Goodson, James Hall, Leonarde Smith and T.J. Lightsey captured the national title in the men's 4x400 in 3:11.06. Only Hall was a newcomer from last year's national championship relay.
The Lady Bison used two veterans and two freshmen. Kyli Bean and Kyta Willets were joined by freshmen LaToya Greaves and Nickiesha Wilson to finish in 3:45.47, two seconds better than the second-place team. It was OBU's second consecutive women's 4x400 title and the third in the last four years.
The day got off to a strong start for OBU with an early-morning marathon. Daniel Ellis won the men's marathon in 2:24.07.61 with Jacob Wright in 29th at 2:50.48.17. Bekah Brock was third in the women's marathon at 2:58.43.71 with Sarah Hale in 20th at 3:21.51.96.
OBU dominated the 400 hurdles as well. Wilson won the women's 400 hurdles in 58.25 seconds. Smith won the men's 400 hurdles in 52.07 with Lamar Baskin in fifth at 53.48.
Landon Willets won the men's 1500 meters at 3:57.51, picking up his first national championship.
OBU also got All-America performances in five other events.
The men's 4x100 relay of Smith, Goodson, Hall and Derek Nettles finished sixth in 41.83 seconds. Theron Stoltzfus was seventh in the 5000 meters at 15:02.26.
In OBU's only field event scoring, Jeremiah Campo placed sixth in the discus at 163 feet, 9 inches.
Bean was second in the women's 400 meters at 55.46 and Willets was second in the 800 meters at 2:07.48.
Missouri Baptist won the women's title with 126 points, followed by Azusa Pacific at 79, Simon Fraser with 74 and OBU at 66. Sixty-one schools scored in the meet on the women's side. Sooner Athletic Conference teams Wayland Baptist (12 points) and St. Gregory's (10) finished 17th and 23rd, respectively.
On the men's side, Dickinson State won with 102 points, followed by Lindenwood at 89, Azusa Pacific at 77 and OBU at 63. Sixty men's teams scored in the meet. Wayland Baptist was 14th, Southern Nazarene was 37th, St. Gregory's 45th and Oklahoma Christian 54th.
Oklahoma Baptist results from the NAIA National Track Meet
MEN
Team Final Standings: 1. Dickinson State 102; 2. Lindenwood 89; 3. Azusa Pacific 77; 4. Oklahoma Baptist 63; 5. Missouri Baptist 57; 6. Virginia Intermont 56; 7. Concordia (Neb.) 43; 8. Doane 41; 9. Concordia (Cal.) 33, 10. Southern Oregon 24
1500 Meters: 1. Landon Willets, 3:57.51.
4x400 Relay: 1. Clint Goodson, James Hall, Leonarde Smith, T.J. Lightsey, 3:11.06
400 Hurdles: 1. Leonarde Smith, 52.07; 5. Lamar Baskin, 53.48
Marathon: 1. Daniel Ellis, 2:24.07.61
4x800 Relay: 3. A.J. Carter, Durrell Williams, Bryce Bell, Landon Willets, 7:38.11
110 Hurdles: 4. Lamar Baskin, 14.32
4x100 Relay: 6. Leonarde Smith, Clint Goodson, James Hall, Derek Nettles, 41.83
Discus: 6. Jeremiah Campo, 163-9
5000 Meters: 7. Theron Stoltzfus, 15:02.26
10,000 Meters: 8. Theron Stoltzfus, 31:22.86
WOMEN
Team Final Standings: 1. Missouri Baptist 126; 2. Azusa Pacific 79; 3. Simon Fraser 74; 4. Oklahoma Baptist 66; 5. Florida Memorial 51; 6. Lindenwood 46.5; 7. Doane 43.5; 8. British Columbia 35; 9. Concordia (Ore.) 27; 10. Black Hills State 22.
400 Hurdles: 1. Nickiesha Wilson, 58.25
100 Hurdles: 1. LaToya Greaves, 13.39; 2. Nickiesha Wilson, 13.44
4x400 Relay: 1. Kyli Bean, Kyta Willets, LaToya Greaves, Nickiesha Wilson, 3:45.47
400 Meters: 2. Kyli Bean 55.46
800 Meters: 2. Kyta Willets, 2:07.48
4x800 Relay: 3. Chandra Huckabay, Amanda Mayfield, Kyli Bean, Kyta Ferrer, 9:07.08
Marathon: 3. Bekah Brock, 2:58.43.71