The Clark College women’s 400-meter relay team put the Northwest Athletic Conference on notice with a standout performance Saturday.
The Penguins squad of Sydney Allen, Nico Field, Emily Peabody and April Cruz turned in a NWAC-best time of 48.57 seconds at the Larry Byerly Invitational at Lewis & Clark College.
Allen also notched two personal bests in the sprints. Her 100-meter time of 12.85 seconds ranks No. 8 this season in the NWAC while her 200-meter time of 26.17 ranks No. 5.
Mandy Richeson logged a season-best time of 16.12 seconds in the 100 hurdles, the second-fastest in the NWAC this season.
Mia Beightol also surged to No. 2 in the NWAC with a 1,500-meter personal best of 4:44.00.
The Clark men, meanwhile, finished second in the team standings in a 21-team field comprised largely of NCAA Division-III and NAIA schools.
The 1,600 relay team of Conner Olmstead, Max Ensinger, Ian Ebinger and Koynn Williamdyke posted a winning time of 3:23.15, the second-fastest in the NWAC this season.
It was a busy day for Williamdyke, who won the 400 meters in a NWAC-best time of 48.13 seconds. He also won the 400 hurdles in 55.12, with Ensinger finishing second in 55.23.
Taeven Hill delivered a personal-best in the long jump. His winning leap of 22 feet, 7.75 inches is the top mark in the NWAC this season.
J’Quan Collins placed third in the long jump and Beau Swett finished fifth after also finishing second in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 5 inches.
This week: The march toward the postseason is on at the NWAC Multi-Event Championships April 28-29 in Eugene, Ore. Champions will be crowned in the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon.
Baseball
Record: 12-16, 5-7 NWAC West.
Last week: The Penguins faced off with first-place Lower Columbia, winning one of four games against the Red Devils last Friday and Saturday.
Kenneth Hall pitched a seven-innings one-hitter as Clark won the Saturday finale 1-0. Jase Pashales’ RBI single in the seventh inning was the lone run as the Penguins handed Lower Columbia (37-3, 15-1) a rare loss.
Lower Columbia swept Friday’s doubleheader at Kindsfather Field 8-1 and 8-5. Clark’s Evan McGuire went 3 for 4 in the first game while Pashales, Treven Long and Landon Criste each had two hits in the second game.
This week: Clark hosts Centralia (18-20) for a doubleheader at noon Saturday before heading north for a Sunday doubleheader at Centralia.
Softball
Record: 11-20, 7-111 NWAC South.
Last week: Gabby Ventura smashed a two-run homer with one out in the top of the eighth to give the Penguins a 9-7 win over Clackamas on Friday. That salvaged a doubleheader split after Clark dropped to opener 9-1.
