Hobbs, New Mexico -- Kenny Bednarek's remarkable performances in the 200 and 400 meters highlighted a string of outstanding showings by the Indian Hills men's track and field team at the 2019 NJCAA National Championships. Bednarek's 19.49 200 meters in the prelims came on one of the most impressive days in program history. By the end of the meet the Warriors had a top-ten national finish and set four school records.
The meet began on Thursday night and the IHCC men competed in four different events. The 4x100m relay kicked things off with an 18th place finish (42.41). Carlon Steward qualified in the men's 400m hurdles and crossed the line 20th overall in 56.20. Bednarek dominated the 400 meter prelims, coasting to a 45.90 and winning his heat by 1.55 seconds. Bednarek qualified for the finals on Saturday with the top time. The last opening-day event for the Warriors was the men's 10,000 meter run. Marcus Graham battled a strong contingent of distance runners to finish fourth, garnering All-American recognition. The top four athletes in the race broke the stadium record. Graham is the first distance athlete in program history to earn All-American status outdoors. Teammate Michael DeMeyer finished 14th.
Day two of the outdoor national meet had all eyes on Bednarek in the 200 meter prelims after Hinds Laird won the first heat in 19.64. Bednarek took the track in the final heat with a less than desirable lane-eight draw. He crossed the line in 19.49 (6.1 wind) to take the lead going into the finals on Saturday. Bednarek's time is a school record and the fastest all-conditions 200 meters in collegiate history across all divisions. It is also the fastest wind-assisted time in world history and would equal the third-fastest performance in collegiate history under normal conditions (19.89 with conversion).
Not to be overshadowed was Elijah Barnes who broke the previous school record in the discus four times. Barnes tossed a 53.74 in his final attempt in prelims to make it to the finals. He went on to throw 55.03 meters in his final attempt in the finals to place fourth overall, earning All-American status. This was over a five-meter personal best for Barnes and shattered the previous school record by nearly five meters.
Also competing on the men's side was Caleb Cowles who cleared an impressive 1.98 meter opening height on his second attempt. After a few solid tries, Cowles bowed out at 2.03 meters, finishing tenth overall. The Minnesota State Mankato-signee narrowly missed All-American honors as the seventh-through-eighth place finishers also missed their attempts at 2.03 meters, but managed to clear the opening height on their first attempt.
Tyler Dunigan continued his successful string of 100 meter races showing that he is a legitimate force to be reckoned with come next season. Dunigan ran a new personal best time of 10.52 seconds, placing 18th overall. This was a four-spot improvement on his rank coming into the meet. The time makes Dunigan the second-fastest men's 100 meter runner in program history.
It was quite the finale for the men's team on Saturday.
Barnes continued his tear in the throwing events. The freshman from Fort Madison, Iowa placed fifth in the shot put with a new personal best of 16.58 meters. Barnes finished the meet scoring nine points for the Warriors. Tracy Gates also had a big day in the triple jump, breaking the outdoor school record with a leap of 14.01 meters.
Bednarek once again stole the show on the final day of the meet. Bednarek ran a new school record and personal best 44.73 in the 400 meter finals, winning by over a second. His time is tied for the second fastest in NJCAA history. Bednarek backed up that performance with a 19.82 clocking in the 200 meter final with a head wind of -0.8. He is the only American and one of only two people in the world to run sub-45 seconds in the 400 meters and sub-20 seconds in the 200 meters on the same day.
On the distance side, Marcus Graham had a gritty race, placing ninth in the 5,000 meter run, just seven seconds shy of All-American status. Michael DeMeyer was 19th.
The IHCC men's team finished the meet ninth overall for the highest national meet finish in program history. The Warriors finished 26th last year. Before the weekend, their highest finish at a national track meet was 18th.