The Roost Athletics Newsletter
Read the full issue of The Roost Athletics Newsletter here.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - For the second year in a row, Embry-Riddle’s Beth McCubbin raced across the finish line at the 2009 NAIA Indoor Nationals to claim the honors of a National Champion. Along with her title as national champion, McCubbin marked her fourthstraight title as an All-American as she earned All-America status at indoor nationals in 2006, 2007, and 2008. McCubbin is the first woman in Embry-Riddle history to earn back-to-back national champion titles.
Nathalie Hildingsson earned All-America honors for the second year in a row with her third-place finish in the 400m, as she bested her own school record, locking in at 56.39. Hildingsson finished behind two runners from Oklahoma Baptist, including the two-time national champion Marissa Moseley and the second place finisher, Verone Chambers.
Alex Salinas, Hildingsson, Baleigh Hyatt and McCubbin combined for a seventh place finish in the women’s DMR, helping guide the Eagles to a 13th place finish, to match their overall finish at last year’s national championship.
The Embry-Riddle men’s track and field team placed fifth overall at the 2009 NAIA Indoor Nationals, highlighted by six All-American performances, including two second place finishers.
Sam Vazquez earned All-America honors in his debut at nationals, taking the silver in the mile event and earning eight points for the men’s team. Vazquez crossed the finish line in an ERAU recordtime of 4:08.82, five seconds behind the 2009 national champion, Aron Rono of Azusa Pacific. Howard Walls notched his third All-America status with his third-place finish in the 60m hurdles in 8.15. Walls finished behind Virgil Mitchell from Doane and LaMarcus Hunter from Evangel, who each broke the previous championship time. Walls entered the event as the third seed, after besting his school record in 8.08 during the semi-final round.
Embry-Riddle’s Chris Chidgey earned his first title as an All-American, as his performance in the 600m was good for a third place finish and a new ERAU school-record of 1:19.50, just one second behind Mario McCottrell from Langston. He also earned All-America status as a member of the sixth place men’s DMR team. Chidgey teamed with up Kevin Bray, Jarrett Woodbury and Vazquez, who all earned All-America status for their performance in the event. Senior Rafael Patrick also earned All-America honors for his performance in Friday’s long jump finals, finishing just one inch behind the national champion. Russell Snyder marked his debut on the national stage in the 3000m with a tenth place finish in 8:44.55.
The men brought home a total of six All-Americans and a fifth place finish, the best in the history of the men’s program, from the 2009 NAIA Indoor Nationals in Johnson City, Tenn.