Bison alum 'secret weapon' sparks relay into nationals

CHADRON, Neb. — It took awhile before the good news was officially posted, but the Chadron State College men’s 4x100 relay team has qualified for the NCAA Division II National Track and Field Championships that will take place May 23-25 at Emporia, Kan.

The Eagles placed third in the race at the Lopers Twilight Meet, also known as a “last chance meet,” on Saturday afternoon in Kearney in 39.88 seconds.

That’s the Chadron State record and is the sixth fastest time of the 2024 season in Division II.

The 12 relay teams from across the nation with the fastest times qualify for the national meet.

The CSC relay runners were McCook High alum Morgan Fawver, Esosa Iyangunmwena, Ryan Clapper and Quincy Efeturi.

“It’s amazing that we ran so well,” said Jake Gruver, the Eagles’ first-year head track and field coach. “We had our secret weapon, Morgan Fawver, available, we had good handoffs and the weather was beautiful. Anytime you dip below 40 seconds it’s a big deal.”

Pittsburg State of Kansas won the 4x100 at Kearney in 39.39 seconds. That’s fastest time in DII in this year.

Central Missouri was second in 39.69 and the Eagles were third with their 39.88.

Colorado-Colorado Springs, which won the RMAC championship two weeks ago, was fourth at 40.06.

There was a similar “last chance meet” hosted by Concordia University at Seward, Neb., on Friday. Its 4x100 relay entries included Northwest Missouri State, which before this weekend had the fastest DII time of 39.79. The Bearcats won that race in 39.60,

Emporia State was second in 40.23 and Chadron State was third in 40.37. Gruver said the CSC handoffs weren’t quite as smooth in the first race as they were in the second.

Following the two meets, Pittsburg State is the national leader with its 39.39 and Northwest Missouri is second with its 39.60. They are followed by Central Missouri, 39.69; Albany State of New York, 39.74; Alabama State at Huntsville, 39.80; and Chadron State, 39.88.