FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Chayton Bynes won two events and set a Chadron State outdoor program record as the Chadron State College track and field team had numerous bright spots at the Jack Christiansen Invitational Meet at Colorado State University in Fort Collins on Friday and Saturday.

Bynes won both the long jump and triple jump and set the school record in the latter event when he went 16.82 meters, or 50 feet, 11 ¾ inches, on his third and final jump before inclement weather shut down the meet in the late afternoon.

It's the first time a CSC triple jumper has eclipsed 50 feet outdoors. The former record of 49-8 ½ was set by Isaac Grimes in 2018 when he won the event at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Meet.

Bynes, a sophomore from Chadron, was also first in the triple jump at last year's Jack Christiansen Meet, but Saturday's record-setting mark was four feet farther. In addition, Bynes won the long jump this year, going 7.28 meters, or 23-10 ½, just an inch shy of his season-best a year ago.

The Eagles also received standout performances from a pair of freshmen. Camila Salvucci won the women's triple jump Saturday by going 39 feet, 1 ½ inches, while is the longest triple jump outdoors for the CSC women's program since Emily Volkmer became an All-American in the event three consecutive years from 2005-07.   
 
Another freshman, Trace Hanchett, who drew lots of attention last week by becoming the first Chadron State javelin thrower to exceed 200 feet since 1989, did well again. He didn't quite hit his best of 203-5 ¼ from the previous Saturday, but he came within four inches of 200 feet while placing third in the event for the second consecutive meet. 

Since Chadron State was one of just three Division II teams at the meet (alongside Black Hills State and Regis) going up against four Division I programs (Colorado, Colorado State, Northern Colorado and Wyoming), some of the Eagles didn't place high but still showed massive improvement. 

That was particularly true in the men's hammer throw where for the second week in a row, seniors Parker Gonser and Christopher Jennings made big gains, each setting a career-best. Gonser placed sixth with a toss of 183-9 and Jennings was 10^th at 177-8 ¼.

After two meets this season, both Gonser and Jennings have added 23 feet to their top marks from the 2023 season. Gonser, who redshirted outdoors last spring, also had a career-best of 50-7 ½ while placing sixth in the shot put Saturday, and was eighth in the discus at 144-5 ½, some 15 feet farther than his top toss at the season-opener a week ago.

The meet ended before all the track events had taken place, but prior to the delay, Esosa Iyangunmwena ran the 100 in 10.75 seconds and freshman Christopher Comier ran the 400 in 48.62. Both races had 15 entries and both Chadron runners each placed fifth. 

Eagles finishing in the top 10 in their events were:
              Men's Events
              100—5, Esosa Iyengunmwena, 10.75.
              400—5, Christopher Cormier, 48.62; 10, Diego Perez, 50.71. 
              4x100 relay—4, Chadron State (Esosa Iyengunmwena, Nicquaine Henry, Ryan Clapper, Creighton Trembly), 41.52.
              Shot put—6, Parker Gonser, 50-7 ¼; 9, Quade Jordan, 46-8 ½
              Discus—8, Parker Gonser, 144-5 ¼. 
              Hammer throw—5, Parker Gonser, 183-9; 6, Christopher Jennings, 177-8 ¼.
              Javelin—3. Trace Hanchett. 199-8; 7, William Stemler, 152-11 ¼.
              Long jump—1, Chayton Bynes, 23-10 ½.
              Triple jump—1, Chayton Bynes, 50-11 ¾. 
              Women's Events
              Shot put—8, Morgan Ekwall, 37-7.
              Discus—10, Ashlyn Tapio, 122-6 ½.  
              Hammer throw—9, Morgan Ekwall, 148-9; 10, Ashlyn Tapio, 134-3 ½. 
              Pole vault—6, Madison Clause, 10-4. 
              Triple jump—1, Camila Salvucci, 39-1 ¼.

Eagles Earn Split, Series Win Over Regis

DENVER – Chadron State battled to a split on the day to earn a series win over Regis, with a late rally falling short in a 4-3 game one loss before the Eagles recovered for a 6-3 win in the series finale. 

The series win, Chadron State's second of the RMAC season, improves the team's record to 12-22 overall and 8-20 in conference play. After the 1-1 day, Regis's record is now 13-24 overall and 12-16 in the RMAC. 

The Eagles had a trio of three-run innings on the day, scoring three in the sixth of game one after trailing 4-0, then using a three-run second and three-run fourth to take the lead in game two. 

Ashland Baca had a pair of two-RBI games, hitting a two-run double in game one before hitting a solo homer plus an RBI double in game two. Lauren Zimmerman and Elizabeth Thorngren also drove in two runs apiece during CSC's game two victory, with Zimmerman tallying three total RBI on the day.

Belle Akins sparkled in a pair of relief appearances, throwing two scoreless innings in game one to keep the Eagles within striking distance of a comeback, then earning a one-inning save with two strikeouts to slam the door in game two.

In game one, starting pitcher Tori Haug battled for five innings, allowing four earned hits on nine hits while while walking one and striking out four. The Rangers scored two runs off Haug in the second by stringing together four consecutive two-out singles, then added on two more in the fifth thanks to a clutch two-out, two-run single by Lima Magana with the bases loaded to make it 4-0. 

Like in Friday's second game, when the Eagles scored five in the sixth inning to earn a comeback victory, Chadron State mounted a comeback in the sixth but fell just short on this occasion. After a walk and a hit batter to open the inning, Aliyah Rothstein reached on a fielder's choice, loading the bases when the Rangers tried to make a play at third and couldn't get anybody out. 

With one out, Lauren Zimmerman singled through the left side as the Eagles went station-to-station. Elizabeth Thorngren came home to score from third to make it 4-1 Regis. Ashland Baca provided the biggest hit of the game with a two-run double to left-center, pulling the Eagles within a run at 4-3 as Zimmerman was held at third. 

Brogan Allen worked a nine-pitch at bat, but struck out looking, and J'lyssa Martinez hit it hard but lined out to center to end the threat. The Eagles went down 1-2-3 in the seventh as Regis emerged with the one-run win. 

Regis jumped on starter Kenzi Garner for a two-run home run in the first inning of game two, but the senior rebounded to throw six innings allowing only one unearned run the rest of the way. Garner scattered nine hits and struck out two while not walking a batter. 

The Eagles took the lead in the second. After a leadoff solo home run by Baca, the Eagles mounted a two-out rally with a single by Sophia Brennan, a walk by Angelina Quezada and a two-run double by Elizabeth Thorngren that scored both runners. 

With the score tied 3-3 in the fourth, the Eagles received clutch two-out hitting again. With two outs and a runner on second, Jazlyn Arvizo worked a two-out walk before Zimmerman and Baca lined back-to-back doubles to a nearly identical spot in the right center field gap, scoring a total of three runs to give the Eagles a 6-3 lead. 

There were some nervous moments in the late innings, as the Eagles committed four errors, including three straight with two out in the sixth inning, but Garner fielded a comebacker to escape the jam. After Garner gave up a leadoff single in the seventh, head coach Rob Stack went to Akins, who struck out two batters to retire the side and earn her second save of the season. 

Next week, the Eagles will take on Colorado School of Mines (11-27, 10-17). The series is currently scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Golden, Colorado, but location and dates could change due to weather.