WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/102ac1a6-c7fe-41dd-957b-3c95838e42f5?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Alli Mickelsen</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b9a50971-1f8d-47e7-8538-a339829f5db8?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Keira Hammen</a>, both of Kansas Wesleyan University, have earned the KCAC Softball Pitcher and Player of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes were selected for their performances from April 14-20 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/faa144cb-3c65-43f6-b34e-f110e80e3a3d?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Equity Bank</a>.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6b585d2a-a5f7-4bed-af6f-4024aa3ae8c6?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Alli Mickelsen</a>&nbsp;- Kansas Wesleyan University

Mickelsen had two outstanding pitching performances for the Coyotes last week. Against York, she struck out eight and scattered three hits in a run-rule win. On Friday, she was phenomenal in a complete game win over Evangel, scattering five hits and just one unearned run with six strikeouts as KWU won 2-1 over the Valor.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7d73e978-cbbe-4bc2-90df-88c0fff0a36e?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Keira Hammen</a>&nbsp;- Kansas Wesleyan University

It was a big week for Hammen and the Coyotes. She had three homers in the York doubleheader, helping KWU to the sweep. She also added two doubles in the win over Evangel. Her double in the third inning set up the first run of the game for the Coyotes.

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/102ac1a6-c7fe-41dd-957b-3c95838e42f5?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Alli Mickelsen</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b9a50971-1f8d-47e7-8538-a339829f5db8?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Keira Hammen</a>, both of Kansas Wesleyan University, have earned the KCAC Softball Pitcher and Player of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes were selected for their performances from April 14-20 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/faa144cb-3c65-43f6-b34e-f110e80e3a3d?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Equity Bank</a>.Pitcher of the Week<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6b585d2a-a5f7-4bed-af6f-4024aa3ae8c6?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Alli Mickelsen</a>&nbsp;- Kansas Wesleyan UniversitySo. | RHP/UTIL | Pleasant Grove, UtahMickelsen had two outstanding pitching performances for the Coyotes last week. Against York, she struck out eight and scattered three hits in a run-rule win. On Friday, she was phenomenal in a complete game win over Evangel, scattering five hits and just one unearned run with six strikeouts as KWU won 2-1 over the Valor.Player of the Week<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7d73e978-cbbe-4bc2-90df-88c0fff0a36e?elinkdata=25343" target="_blank">Keira Hammen</a>&nbsp;- Kansas Wesleyan UniversitySo. | INF | Rockwell City, IowaIt was a big week for Hammen and the Coyotes. She had three homers in the York doubleheader, helping KWU to the sweep. She also added two doubles in the win over Evangel. Her double in the third inning set up the first run of the game for the Coyotes.

Kansas Wesleyan Sweeps KCAC Softball Weekly Honors

BOSTON (AP) — Sharon Lokedi broke the Boston Marathon course record, and fellow Kenyan John Korir joined his brother as a race champion on Monday as the city celebrated the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.

Lokedi, who ran for the University of Kansas from 2015-2019, outran two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri over the final mile a year after losing a sprint down Boylston Street to her in one of the closest finishes in race history. Lokedi finished in an unofficial 2 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds — 19 seconds ahead of Obiri and more than 2 1/2 minutes faster than the previous Boston best.

Six months after winning Chicago, Korir finished in 2:04:45 — the second-fastest winning time in race history as the runners took advantage of perfect marathon weather to conquer the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square.

After crossing the line, Korir was greeted by his older brother, 2012 Boston winner Wesley Korir. Although the race has been won by a pair of unrelated John Kelleys and two different Robert Cheruiyots, the Korirs are the first brothers — or relatives of any kind — to win the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.

Conner Mantz of Provo, Utah, finished fourth after losing a three-way sprint to the finish with Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania and Cybrian Kotut of Kenya. Simbu was second and Kotut was third.

Korir ran without his bib showing, pulling it out of his running tights as he sprinted down Boylston Street.

Reenactors on horseback, accompanied by a fife and drum playing “Yankee Doodle,” helped start the festivities and add a bit of levity when Paul Revere’s horse was spooked by the finish line decal on the street and stopped. The actor portraying the colonial silversmith and patriot had to hop off and walk the last few steps himself as the small early crowd laughed and clapped.

After reading a proclamation, Revere gently tugged the horse the rest of the way before riding off to more ceremonies commemorating the midnight ride on April 19, 1775, that warned the colonists in Lexington and Concord that the British were on the march.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland had no such trouble completing the course, zooming into Copley Square in 1:21:34 for his eighth Boston wheelchair title. He beat two-time winner Daniel Romanchuk by more than four minutes in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boston-marathon-wheelchair-bob-hall-0426d27b488fbb668c04523a391d655d">50th anniversary of Bob Hall’s pioneering push</a>&nbsp;to add a wheelchair division to the race.

“It means a lot to win this year, 50 years of wheelchairs in Boston,” Hug said. “For me, it will take some time to realize what it means, eight times wins. It’s such an incredible number.”

Susannah Scaroni of the United States won the women’s wheelchair race for the second time, finishing in 1:35:20. Her victory guaranteed that the “Star-Spangled Banner” would play on Boylston Street in Copley Square on Patriots’ Day, the state holiday that commemorates the first shots of the Revolutionary War&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lexington-concord-battles-250-independence-history-debate-031df77dc1cfa5cf669b6694dfe509ee">250 years ago Saturday</a>.

BOSTON (AP) — Sharon Lokedi broke the Boston Marathon course record, and fellow Kenyan John Korir joined his brother as a race champion on Monday as the city celebrated the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">HISTORY MADE. ROCK CHALK. <a href="https://t.co/EASS8bOgfU">pic.twitter.com/EASS8bOgfU</a>&mdash; Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUAthletics/status/1914354323070361905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sharon Lokedi is the 2025 Boston Marathon CHAMPION 🏆 ROCK CHALK She finishes with a time of 2:17.20, a new course RECORD <a href="https://t.co/4jcFi5rcWb">pic.twitter.com/4jcFi5rcWb</a>&mdash; Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUAthletics/status/1914350276149981268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lokedi, who ran for the University of Kansas from 2015-2019, outran two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri over the final mile a year after losing a sprint down Boylston Street to her in one of the closest finishes in race history. Lokedi finished in an unofficial 2 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds — 19 seconds ahead of Obiri and more than 2 1/2 minutes faster than the previous Boston best.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to Kenya’s John Korir and Sharon Lokedi on winning the <a href="https://twitter.com/bostonmarathon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bostonmarathon</a>! <a href="https://t.co/JVh3luP9fR">pic.twitter.com/JVh3luP9fR</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Nairobi (@USEmbassyKenya) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKenya/status/1914354713736225197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Six months after winning Chicago, Korir finished in 2:04:45 — the second-fastest winning time in race history as the runners took advantage of perfect marathon weather to conquer the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square.After crossing the line, Korir was greeted by his older brother, 2012 Boston winner Wesley Korir. Although the race has been won by a pair of unrelated John Kelleys and two different Robert Cheruiyots, the Korirs are the first brothers — or relatives of any kind — to win the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.Conner Mantz of Provo, Utah, finished fourth after losing a three-way sprint to the finish with Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania and Cybrian Kotut of Kenya. Simbu was second and Kotut was third.Korir ran without his bib showing, pulling it out of his running tights as he sprinted down Boylston Street.Reenactors on horseback, accompanied by a fife and drum playing “Yankee Doodle,” helped start the festivities and add a bit of levity when Paul Revere’s horse was spooked by the finish line decal on the street and stopped. The actor portraying the colonial silversmith and patriot had to hop off and walk the last few steps himself as the small early crowd laughed and clapped.After reading a proclamation, Revere gently tugged the horse the rest of the way before riding off to more ceremonies commemorating the midnight ride on April 19, 1775, that warned the colonists in Lexington and Concord that the British were on the march.Marcel Hug of Switzerland had no such trouble completing the course, zooming into Copley Square in 1:21:34 for his eighth Boston wheelchair title. He beat two-time winner Daniel Romanchuk by more than four minutes in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boston-marathon-wheelchair-bob-hall-0426d27b488fbb668c04523a391d655d">50th anniversary of Bob Hall’s pioneering push</a>&nbsp;to add a wheelchair division to the race.“It means a lot to win this year, 50 years of wheelchairs in Boston,” Hug said. “For me, it will take some time to realize what it means, eight times wins. It’s such an incredible number.”Susannah Scaroni of the United States won the women’s wheelchair race for the second time, finishing in 1:35:20. Her victory guaranteed that the “Star-Spangled Banner” would play on Boylston Street in Copley Square on Patriots’ Day, the state holiday that commemorates the first shots of the Revolutionary War&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lexington-concord-battles-250-independence-history-debate-031df77dc1cfa5cf669b6694dfe509ee">250 years ago Saturday</a>.

Former KU star wins Boston Marathon in record time

DETROIT (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 Sunday to stop a six-game losing streak.

With the score 3-3, Jonathan India's groundout off Tyler Holton (1-2) advanced automatic runner Drew Waters to third, and Witt hit a 280-foot fly to left. Waters scored headfirst ahead of Riley Greene's throw.

Carlos Estévez (1-0) intentionally walked Greene to put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom half, then retired Dillon Dingler on a popup.

Kansas City went 2-8 on its trip and is 9-14. Detroit had won three straight.

Detroit left fielder Kerry Carpenter left the game after the eighth inning because of right hamstring soreness.

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings, while Royals starter Michael Wacha gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 inning

Hunter Pasquantino and Drew Waters built a 2-0 lead with RBI singles in the second, but consecutive, two-out run-scoring singles by Carpenter and Zach McKinstry tied the score inthe fifth.

McKinstry's RBI single in the seventh ended Daniel Lynch IV's scoreless streak at 31 innings.

Mark Canha tied the score in the eighth with an RBI single after Witt reached second on a throwing error by third baseman Javier Báez.

With the bases loaded in the seventh, Salvador Perez scooped Greene's grounded and start an inning-ending 3-2-3 double play.

Skubal is 11-1 with a 1.96 ERA in 18 starts at home since the start of the 2024 season.

Royals: LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.88) starts Tuesday homestand opener against Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-1, 4.82).

Tigers: RHP Keider Montero (0-1, 9.00) starts Monday's series opener against Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (1-1. 1.74).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745232105722.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters dives safely into home plate as Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) waits for the throw in the tenth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters dives safely into home plate as Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) waits for the throw in the tenth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 Sunday to stop a six-game losing streak.With the score 3-3, Jonathan India's groundout off Tyler Holton (1-2) advanced automatic runner Drew Waters to third, and Witt hit a 280-foot fly to left. Waters scored headfirst ahead of Riley Greene's throw.Carlos Estévez (1-0) intentionally walked Greene to put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom half, then retired Dillon Dingler on a popup.Kansas City went 2-8 on its trip and is 9-14. Detroit had won three straight.Detroit left fielder Kerry Carpenter left the game after the eighth inning because of right hamstring soreness.Tigers ace Tarik Skubal allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings, while Royals starter Michael Wacha gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 inningHunter Pasquantino and Drew Waters built a 2-0 lead with RBI singles in the second, but consecutive, two-out run-scoring singles by Carpenter and Zach McKinstry tied the score inthe fifth.McKinstry's RBI single in the seventh ended Daniel Lynch IV's scoreless streak at 31 innings.Mark Canha tied the score in the eighth with an RBI single after Witt reached second on a throwing error by third baseman Javier Báez.<h2>Key moment</h2>With the bases loaded in the seventh, Salvador Perez scooped Greene's grounded and start an inning-ending 3-2-3 double play.<h2>Key stat</h2>Skubal is 11-1 with a 1.96 ERA in 18 starts at home since the start of the 2024 season.<h2>Up next</h2>Royals: LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.88) starts Tuesday homestand opener against Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-1, 4.82).Tigers: RHP Keider Montero (0-1, 9.00) starts Monday's series opener against Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (1-1. 1.74).

⚾ Witt's sacrifice fly in 10th helps Royals beat Tigers to stop 6-game skid

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

After four weeks of toiling in the basement of the AF1, the Salina Liberty put all the pieces together on Saturday night, collecting a convincing 47-32 victory over the Oregon Lightning.

Newly signed quarterback Rakeem Cato shone brightest in this game, ending the Liberty’s quarterback woes to the tune of an 8-15 day with 92 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Wideouts Ed Smith and Malik Honeycutt benefited greatly from the change under center, with Honeycutt hauling in six catches for 59 yards and three touchdowns, and Smith bringing in six for 33 yards and two scores.

After a long Oregon drive that put the Lightning on top early, Cato demonstrated his efficiency, delivering a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ed Smith in his very first snap in a Liberty uniform.

Oregon would strike back on a wild drive, but the Liberty blocked the PAT and responded on Cato’s second TD of the day, this time to Honeycutt, to take their first lead of the day.

After forcing a turnover on downs, Salina had less than a minute to score before halftime, and once again Cato delivered, finding Honeycutt in the back of the end zone as time expired.

The Liberty picked up right where they left off in the third quarter, extending the lead to 14 on a 31-yard bomb to Honeycutt in the back corner of the end zone.

Oregon did respond with a touchdown pass of their own from Dalton Cole to Bryce Goggin, but the Liberty defense tightened the screws from there, forcing two huge stops to seal the deal.

With this result, both teams move into a tie for sixth place with the Washington Wolfpack at 1-4.

Salina will hit the road for back-to-back games at Billings and Albany, while the Lightning return to Oregon to host Washington next Friday.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostAfter four weeks of toiling in the basement of the AF1, the Salina Liberty put all the pieces together on Saturday night, collecting a convincing 47-32 victory over the Oregon Lightning.Newly signed quarterback Rakeem Cato shone brightest in this game, ending the Liberty’s quarterback woes to the tune of an 8-15 day with 92 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions.Wideouts Ed Smith and Malik Honeycutt benefited greatly from the change under center, with Honeycutt hauling in six catches for 59 yards and three touchdowns, and Smith bringing in six for 33 yards and two scores.After a long Oregon drive that put the Lightning on top early, Cato demonstrated his efficiency, delivering a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ed Smith in his very first snap in a Liberty uniform.Oregon would strike back on a wild drive, but the Liberty blocked the PAT and responded on Cato’s second TD of the day, this time to Honeycutt, to take their first lead of the day.After forcing a turnover on downs, Salina had less than a minute to score before halftime, and once again Cato delivered, finding Honeycutt in the back of the end zone as time expired.The Liberty picked up right where they left off in the third quarter, extending the lead to 14 on a 31-yard bomb to Honeycutt in the back corner of the end zone.Oregon did respond with a touchdown pass of their own from Dalton Cole to Bryce Goggin, but the Liberty defense tightened the screws from there, forcing two huge stops to seal the deal.With this result, both teams move into a tie for sixth place with the Washington Wolfpack at 1-4.Salina will hit the road for back-to-back games at Billings and Albany, while the Lightning return to Oregon to host Washington next Friday.

Newly signed Cato leads Liberty to first win of AF1 campaign

Kansas Wesleyan track and field coach <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/coaches/kyle-hiser/803">Kyle Hiser</a> has a nickname for <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/keegan-lott/9609">Keegan Lott</a>: Mr. Consistency.

Lott placed second in the shot put and discus Saturday while competing in the Coyote Challenge. He threw 46.07 meters in the discus and 15.08 in the shot put.

The effort came after winning the javelin and competing in the hammer throw on Friday night. Lott qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in the javelin earlier this season.

"He's been Mr. Consistent for us in those events," Hiser said. "He did all four throws this week, there's no other thrower in our conference let alone the country doing that. He's going to get a little rest going into next week and he's going to come back and do the same thing at (Kansas) Conference (in two weeks) in the same rings."

<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/dylan-worrell/9617">Dylan Worrell</a> finished seventh in the shot put (13.81m) and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/austin-baird/10374">Austin Baird</a> 34th (9.50m) while Keyon Baccus took 10th in the discus (42.48m) and Baird 29th (34.64m).

Saturday also was big for KWU's hurdlers as well. <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/brenden-ellis/9598">Brenden Ellis</a> placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (58.25) and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/tristan-howard/10576">Tristan Howard</a> fifth (58.34) and was fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.55).

"<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/brenden-ellis/9598">Brenden Ellis</a> is a steeplechaser who always has good hurdle form, so we threw him into the 400 hurdles, and he looked like a seasoned veteran out there," Hiser said. "<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/tristan-howard/10576">Tristan Howard</a> had a huge PR (personal record) in the 110 hurdles and then came back and PR'd in the 400 hurdles, so it was a hurdle type of day out there for our group."

Brennan Allen was seventh in the 400 hurdles (1:0.59).

The 4x100-meter relay team crossed the finish line in fourth place in 42.64 seconds. The team consisted of <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/tyler-fontenot/9602">Tyler Fontenot</a>, <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/kean-dinkel/10378">Kean Dinkel</a>, <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/andrew-smith/10382">Andrew Smith</a> and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/lorenzo-vaccari/10665">Lorenzo Vaccari</a> – a recent and valuable addition.

"They ran their fastest time of the year and that's like our fourth iteration of that relay," Hiser said. "We've been plugging and moving things around and one athlete that stands out is <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/lorenzo-vaccari/10665">Lorenzo Vaccari</a>. Former soccer player has only run for about a month with us. He had a huge anchor leg and ran lights out so that was really cool to see."

Dinkel, a freshman, ran a sub-50 second leg in the 4x400 relay. He was joined by <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/wyatt-johnson/9608">Wyatt Johnson</a>, <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/ty-davidson/9596">Ty Davidson</a> and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/triston-cottone/9594">Triston Cottone</a>.

"<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/kean-dinkel/10378">Kean Dinkel</a> was big for us and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/wyatt-johnson/9608">Wyatt Johnson</a> ran 48 seconds," Hiser said. "That's the fastest time we've run in about three years on that. Really cool to capitalize and end the day on that event."

A second KWU team of <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/ruben-rivera-agosto/10666">Ruben Rivera Agosto</a>, <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/andrew-smith/10382">Andrew Smith</a>, Allen and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/trevor-peal/10392">Trevor Peal</a> were fifth in the 4x400 relay (3:26.67).

<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/zamari-burrell/9591">Zamari Burrell</a> sped to a 10.90 second time in the 100 meters. Dinkel was seventh (11.18), Vaccari ninth (11.25) and Fontenot 11th (11.39).

<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/nate-chavez/10360">Nate Chavez</a> placed fifth in the 400 meters (50.53), Smith was ninth (51.18), Rivero Agosto 11th (52.00), Peal 15th (52.34), <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/riley-garcia/9603">Riley Garcia</a> 18th (52.66) and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/sidney-washington/10384">Sidney Washington</a> 24th (53.42).

Fontenot was the fourth-place finisher in the 200 meters (22.19) and Vaccari was 11th (22.54).

<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/darius-archuleta/9586">Darius Archuleta</a> took fourth in the triple jump (13.26m) while <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/kamal-murphy/9612">Kamal Murphy</a> was fifth (12.75m).

Archuleta also was 10th in the long jump (6.66m), Allen 22nd (5.76m) and Murphy 23rd (5.60m).

Hiser was thrilled with the way the inaugural Coyote Challenge went.

"I can't thank our administration enough for giving us the facilities, the resources, the coaching staff to do what we were able to do over these last two days," he said. "Had a lot of coaches coming up and saying you guys are doing a really good job. When it's the first time ever it's always nerve wracking but I think it went about as smooth as possible."

Kansas Wesleyan track and field coach <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/coaches/kyle-hiser/803">Kyle Hiser</a> has a nickname for <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/keegan-lott/9609">Keegan Lott</a>: Mr. Consistency.Lott placed second in the shot put and discus Saturday while competing in the Coyote Challenge. He threw 46.07 meters in the discus and 15.08 in the shot put.The effort came after winning the javelin and competing in the hammer throw on Friday night. Lott qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in the javelin earlier this season."He's been Mr. Consistent for us in those events," Hiser said. "He did all four throws this week, there's no other thrower in our conference let alone the country doing that. He's going to get a little rest going into next week and he's going to come back and do the same thing at (Kansas) Conference (in two weeks) in the same rings."<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/dylan-worrell/9617">Dylan Worrell</a> finished seventh in the shot put (13.81m) and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/austin-baird/10374">Austin Baird</a> 34th (9.50m) while Keyon Baccus took 10th in the discus (42.48m) and Baird 29th (34.64m).Saturday also was big for KWU's hurdlers as well. <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/brenden-ellis/9598">Brenden Ellis</a> placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (58.25) and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/tristan-howard/10576">Tristan Howard</a> fifth (58.34) and was fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.55)."<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/brenden-ellis/9598">Brenden Ellis</a> is a steeplechaser who always has good hurdle form, so we threw him into the 400 hurdles, and he looked like a seasoned veteran out there," Hiser said. "<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/tristan-howard/10576">Tristan Howard</a> had a huge PR (personal record) in the 110 hurdles and then came back and PR'd in the 400 hurdles, so it was a hurdle type of day out there for our group."Brennan Allen was seventh in the 400 hurdles (1:0.59).The 4x100-meter relay team crossed the finish line in fourth place in 42.64 seconds. The team consisted of <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/tyler-fontenot/9602">Tyler Fontenot</a>, <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/kean-dinkel/10378">Kean Dinkel</a>, <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/andrew-smith/10382">Andrew Smith</a> and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/lorenzo-vaccari/10665">Lorenzo Vaccari</a> – a recent and valuable addition."They ran their fastest time of the year and that's like our fourth iteration of that relay," Hiser said. "We've been plugging and moving things around and one athlete that stands out is <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/lorenzo-vaccari/10665">Lorenzo Vaccari</a>. Former soccer player has only run for about a month with us. He had a huge anchor leg and ran lights out so that was really cool to see."Dinkel, a freshman, ran a sub-50 second leg in the 4x400 relay. He was joined by <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/wyatt-johnson/9608">Wyatt Johnson</a>, <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/ty-davidson/9596">Ty Davidson</a> and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/triston-cottone/9594">Triston Cottone</a>."<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/kean-dinkel/10378">Kean Dinkel</a> was big for us and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/wyatt-johnson/9608">Wyatt Johnson</a> ran 48 seconds," Hiser said. "That's the fastest time we've run in about three years on that. Really cool to capitalize and end the day on that event."A second KWU team of <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/ruben-rivera-agosto/10666">Ruben Rivera Agosto</a>, <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/andrew-smith/10382">Andrew Smith</a>, Allen and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/trevor-peal/10392">Trevor Peal</a> were fifth in the 4x400 relay (3:26.67).<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/zamari-burrell/9591">Zamari Burrell</a> sped to a 10.90 second time in the 100 meters. Dinkel was seventh (11.18), Vaccari ninth (11.25) and Fontenot 11th (11.39).<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/nate-chavez/10360">Nate Chavez</a> placed fifth in the 400 meters (50.53), Smith was ninth (51.18), Rivero Agosto 11th (52.00), Peal 15th (52.34), <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/riley-garcia/9603">Riley Garcia</a> 18th (52.66) and <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/sidney-washington/10384">Sidney Washington</a> 24th (53.42).Fontenot was the fourth-place finisher in the 200 meters (22.19) and Vaccari was 11th (22.54).<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/darius-archuleta/9586">Darius Archuleta</a> took fourth in the triple jump (13.26m) while <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-outdoor-track/roster/kamal-murphy/9612">Kamal Murphy</a> was fifth (12.75m).Archuleta also was 10th in the long jump (6.66m), Allen 22nd (5.76m) and Murphy 23rd (5.60m).Hiser was thrilled with the way the inaugural Coyote Challenge went."I can't thank our administration enough for giving us the facilities, the resources, the coaching staff to do what we were able to do over these last two days," he said. "Had a lot of coaches coming up and saying you guys are doing a really good job. When it's the first time ever it's always nerve wracking but I think it went about as smooth as possible."

'Mr. Consistency' leads KWU Men's Track on sescond day of Coyote Challnege

Competing at their home venues seemed to suit <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a2b26bc6-ce6f-49ec-9839-c2d19392211e?elinkdata=25281">Julie Rottinghaus</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b72e9138-9704-4b65-b661-c56abee714bb?elinkdata=25281">Lauryn Mikkelson</a> and Chloe Grusing.

Each produced standout efforts during the second day of Kansas Wesleyan's Coyote Challenge track and field event Saturday at JRI Hospitality Stadium in the Graves Family Sports Complex and the throws venue west of campus on Coronado Avenue.

Rottinghaus set a PR (personal record) and moved into second on the school's all-time list in the triple jump with a distance of 10.71 meters. She placed seventh in the event and was followed by teammate <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1ec472b9-c3c0-4a6e-bbe1-1ac22c64a785?elinkdata=25281">Dahn Hanlon</a> who was eighth (10.11m).

"We only gave her three attempts because she had to go run the (4x400 meter relay) after that and then split 60 seconds flat on that," coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/85e5f5b3-84c7-4ede-bed0-26505e46114f?elinkdata=25281">Kyle Hiser</a> said of Rottinghaus.

Rottinghaus ran the first leg on the 4x4 relay team that took second with a time of 4:05.69. She was joined by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0bd13abd-b4f3-4e47-b1cb-b2bc8909cdf9?elinkdata=25281">Madisyn Ehrlich</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dd62a568-9ac7-4836-9750-22cb87095bb3?elinkdata=25281">Brionna Floyd</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9825a490-a2a9-45d2-8bfe-98e880864a38?elinkdata=25281">Hailey Nordhus</a>.

Not to be outdone, the 4x100-meter relay team placed third (49.61) and was comprised of Rottinghaus, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/09d56b35-3d08-4869-a6c7-f6ec4bae5136?elinkdata=25281">Markyla Shaw</a>, Mikkelson and Floyd.

"Our women's 4 by 4 ran the second fastest time in school history and then the 4 by 1 ran the second fastest time in school history as well," Hiser said. "Those sprinters really stepped up and showed out. We had a blend of athletes that ran last night, came back and ran today so really fun to see."

Mikkelson was perhaps the most at ease having competed in JRI Stadium before coming to KWU. She placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles with a PR (1:10.48) on Saturday.

"This is her track that she trained at in high school (Sacred Heart) and now in college," Hiser said. "She got to come in here and compete at home. Looked really strong and was just running confident through the first part of the race which is what we've been really been working on over the last week."

Grusing set a PR in the shot put with a throw of 11.6 meters and placed fifth. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/143e4640-d606-49c1-8149-8d448bf1cafb?elinkdata=25281">Elizabeth Stout</a> was 11th (10.65m), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cbae1619-85c3-493c-89ee-a71b56672649?elinkdata=25281">Aunisty McNeal</a> 14th (10.03m) and Roselyn Torres 26th (6.95m).

Rottinghaus also placed eight in the long jump (5.02m), Hanlon 11th (4.86) and Shaw 16th (4.57m).

In the discus McNeal finished 15th (31.71m), Grusing 17th (31.40m), Torres 23rd (27.53m) and Stout 26th (25.64m).

Floyd finished fifth in the 400 meters (1:01.48) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a9c58d32-0a1a-47c2-96ee-4a65fc66fc3b?elinkdata=25281">Ava Kenyon</a> 13th (1:03.40).

Shaw placed 14th in the 200 meters (27.05).

Hiser was thrilled with how things transpired in KWU's first home meet since 2019.

"I can't thank our administration enough for giving us the facilities, the resources, the coaching staff, to do what we were able to do over these last two days," he said. "Had a lot of coaches coming up and saying you guys are doing a really good job. It's always nerve wracking but I think it went about as smooth as possible."

Competing at their home venues seemed to suit <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a2b26bc6-ce6f-49ec-9839-c2d19392211e?elinkdata=25281">Julie Rottinghaus</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b72e9138-9704-4b65-b661-c56abee714bb?elinkdata=25281">Lauryn Mikkelson</a> and Chloe Grusing.Each produced standout efforts during the second day of Kansas Wesleyan's Coyote Challenge track and field event Saturday at JRI Hospitality Stadium in the Graves Family Sports Complex and the throws venue west of campus on Coronado Avenue.Rottinghaus set a PR (personal record) and moved into second on the school's all-time list in the triple jump with a distance of 10.71 meters. She placed seventh in the event and was followed by teammate <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1ec472b9-c3c0-4a6e-bbe1-1ac22c64a785?elinkdata=25281">Dahn Hanlon</a> who was eighth (10.11m)."We only gave her three attempts because she had to go run the (4x400 meter relay) after that and then split 60 seconds flat on that," coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/85e5f5b3-84c7-4ede-bed0-26505e46114f?elinkdata=25281">Kyle Hiser</a> said of Rottinghaus.Rottinghaus ran the first leg on the 4x4 relay team that took second with a time of 4:05.69. She was joined by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0bd13abd-b4f3-4e47-b1cb-b2bc8909cdf9?elinkdata=25281">Madisyn Ehrlich</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dd62a568-9ac7-4836-9750-22cb87095bb3?elinkdata=25281">Brionna Floyd</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9825a490-a2a9-45d2-8bfe-98e880864a38?elinkdata=25281">Hailey Nordhus</a>.Not to be outdone, the 4x100-meter relay team placed third (49.61) and was comprised of Rottinghaus, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/09d56b35-3d08-4869-a6c7-f6ec4bae5136?elinkdata=25281">Markyla Shaw</a>, Mikkelson and Floyd."Our women's 4 by 4 ran the second fastest time in school history and then the 4 by 1 ran the second fastest time in school history as well," Hiser said. "Those sprinters really stepped up and showed out. We had a blend of athletes that ran last night, came back and ran today so really fun to see."Mikkelson was perhaps the most at ease having competed in JRI Stadium before coming to KWU. She placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles with a PR (1:10.48) on Saturday."This is her track that she trained at in high school (Sacred Heart) and now in college," Hiser said. "She got to come in here and compete at home. Looked really strong and was just running confident through the first part of the race which is what we've been really been working on over the last week."Grusing set a PR in the shot put with a throw of 11.6 meters and placed fifth. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/143e4640-d606-49c1-8149-8d448bf1cafb?elinkdata=25281">Elizabeth Stout</a> was 11th (10.65m), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cbae1619-85c3-493c-89ee-a71b56672649?elinkdata=25281">Aunisty McNeal</a> 14th (10.03m) and Roselyn Torres 26th (6.95m).Rottinghaus also placed eight in the long jump (5.02m), Hanlon 11th (4.86) and Shaw 16th (4.57m).In the discus McNeal finished 15th (31.71m), Grusing 17th (31.40m), Torres 23rd (27.53m) and Stout 26th (25.64m).Floyd finished fifth in the 400 meters (1:01.48) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a9c58d32-0a1a-47c2-96ee-4a65fc66fc3b?elinkdata=25281">Ava Kenyon</a> 13th (1:03.40).Shaw placed 14th in the 200 meters (27.05).Hiser was thrilled with how things transpired in KWU's first home meet since 2019."I can't thank our administration enough for giving us the facilities, the resources, the coaching staff, to do what we were able to do over these last two days," he said. "Had a lot of coaches coming up and saying you guys are doing a really good job. It's always nerve wracking but I think it went about as smooth as possible."

Coyote women's Track and Field successful on second day of Coyote Challenge

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;The Kansas Wesleyan University women's tennis team has been awarded the KCAC Champions of Character Team of the Year honor for their sport in the 2024-25 season. Champions of Character award winners from each institution have also been chosen. The KCAC Team of Character and Champions of Character awards are sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bdef9c81-c484-48cc-a0f8-da9649d42dcb?elinkdata=25250" target="_blank">IMA Financial Group</a>, and both were based on the NAIA Champions of Character award. A team is recognized in each sport, as voted on by their peer coaches.

The Coyotes serve and volunteer on campus and in the community in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to:

Committed to advancing character-driven athletics, the NAIA Champions of Character program aims to inspire student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans to hold high standards and embody what character truly means in a competitive arena. By keeping the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership at the heart of the athletics experience, the Champions of Character program empowers participants to change the culture of sport.

The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions of Character awards are presented by IMA Financial Group, and are awarded to the student-athletes and team who best represent the mission of the Champions of Character Program.

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;The Kansas Wesleyan University women's tennis team has been awarded the KCAC Champions of Character Team of the Year honor for their sport in the 2024-25 season. Champions of Character award winners from each institution have also been chosen. The KCAC Team of Character and Champions of Character awards are sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bdef9c81-c484-48cc-a0f8-da9649d42dcb?elinkdata=25250" target="_blank">IMA Financial Group</a>, and both were based on the NAIA Champions of Character award. A team is recognized in each sport, as voted on by their peer coaches.The Coyotes serve and volunteer on campus and in the community in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to:<ul>
 <li>Several students on the team serve in leadership positions in the Multicultural Student Union, a campus advocacy group for those with diverse backgrounds.</li><li>Several students on the team founded and serve in leadership roles in KWU Students for Life, an advocacy group for women's health and infant health rights.</li><li>Put on a summer tennis camp, where over 30 local children took part in a week-long training camp.</li><li>Volunteering at a local church in a child care role.</li>
 </ul>Committed to advancing character-driven athletics, the NAIA Champions of Character program aims to inspire student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans to hold high standards and embody what character truly means in a competitive arena. By keeping the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership at the heart of the athletics experience, the Champions of Character program empowers participants to change the culture of sport.The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions of Character awards are presented by IMA Financial Group, and are awarded to the student-athletes and team who best represent the mission of the Champions of Character Program.

KWU named KCAC Women's Tennis Team of Character

DETROIT (AP) — Andy Ibáñez hit a tiebreaking home run in the second inning to back rookie Jackson Jobe and lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over Kansas City on Friday night that extended the Royals’ losing streak to five.

Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run double in the seventh for his AL-leading 13th extra-base hit for the Tigers.

Kansas City dropped to 1-7 on a 10-game trip. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino’s double for a 1-0 lead.

Tomás Nido, who had three hits, hit a tying single in the second and Ibáñez’s drive leading off the fourth put Detroit ahead for good.

Jobe (2-0) allowed one run and five hits in five inning.

Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to chase Cole Ragans (1-1), whose team record-tying streak of three straight starts with 10 or more strikeouts ended. Ragans gave up five runs and six hits in four innings, striking out eight for a major league-best 39.

Witt singled and scored on Pasquantino’s single in the ninth off Kenta Maeda. Tommy Kahnle got two outs for his fourth save.

The Royals sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Kahnle struck out Cavan Biggio before Drew Waters lined out.

The Royals began the day averaging 2.95 runs — ahead of only Colorado. They have scored four runs or less in 19 of 21 games and haven’t scored more than four since April 4 against Baltimore.

DETROIT (AP) — Andy Ibáñez hit a tiebreaking home run in the second inning to back rookie Jackson Jobe and lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over Kansas City on Friday night that extended the Royals’ losing streak to five.Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run double in the seventh for his AL-leading 13th extra-base hit for the Tigers.Kansas City dropped to 1-7 on a 10-game trip. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino’s double for a 1-0 lead.Tomás Nido, who had three hits, hit a tying single in the second and Ibáñez’s drive leading off the fourth put Detroit ahead for good.Jobe (2-0) allowed one run and five hits in five inning.Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to chase Cole Ragans (1-1), whose team record-tying streak of three straight starts with 10 or more strikeouts ended. Ragans gave up five runs and six hits in four innings, striking out eight for a major league-best 39.Witt singled and scored on Pasquantino’s single in the ninth off Kenta Maeda. Tommy Kahnle got two outs for his fourth save.<h2>Key moment</h2>The Royals sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Kahnle struck out Cavan Biggio before Drew Waters lined out.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals began the day averaging 2.95 runs — ahead of only Colorado. They have scored four runs or less in 19 of 21 games and haven’t scored more than four since April 4 against Baltimore.<h2>Up next</h2>

⚾ Ibáñez hits tiebreaking homer to lead Tigers over Royals

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– K-State women’s basketball head coach Jeff Mittie has added a strong backcourt presence to the 2025-26 roster, as Izela Arenas has signed with the Wildcats.

Arenas, a product of Porter Ranch, California, played her first collegiate season in 2024-25 at Louisville. She saw action in 29 games and logged 343 minutes of playing time (11.8 mpg). She carded 121 points (4.2 ppg) on a 41.8 field goal percentage (46-of-110), including a 38.5 three-point field goal percentage (20-of-52). In ACC play, Arenas tallied 62 points (4.1 ppg) on a 45.3 percent effort (24-of-53) from the field including 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from long distance.

Arenas registered five games, including three in ACC games, with 10 or more points and achieving a career-high 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting against Clemson on February 27.

A four-star prospect and ranked number 88 overall by ESPNHoopGurlz for the class of 2024, Arenas helped Sierra Canyon High School to a 62-4 overall record in her final two seasons on the squad including a 31-1 record in her junior season in 2023 and a number one national ranking for the majority of the 2023 campaign. In her senior year in 2024, Arenas helped Sierra Canyon to a 31-3 record and a final national ranking of ninth.

In May of 2023, Arenas won the Queen of the Court event in Atlanta during the Overtime Elite Takeover. This event is a one-on-one showcase with some of the top female basketball players in the country.

Arenas is the daughter of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, who played 12 seasons in the NBA.

K-State concluded the 2024-25 season with its 19th NCAA Tournament bid and the fourth Sweet 16 appearance in program history. The Wildcats registered the second-most wins in a season in school history with 28 and tied for the second-most wins in a two-season span (54). K-State was ranked in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls for the entirety of the season.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– K-State women’s basketball head coach Jeff Mittie has added a strong backcourt presence to the 2025-26 roster, as Izela Arenas has signed with the Wildcats.Arenas, a product of Porter Ranch, California, played her first collegiate season in 2024-25 at Louisville. She saw action in 29 games and logged 343 minutes of playing time (11.8 mpg). She carded 121 points (4.2 ppg) on a 41.8 field goal percentage (46-of-110), including a 38.5 three-point field goal percentage (20-of-52). In ACC play, Arenas tallied 62 points (4.1 ppg) on a 45.3 percent effort (24-of-53) from the field including 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from long distance.Arenas registered five games, including three in ACC games, with 10 or more points and achieving a career-high 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting against Clemson on February 27.A four-star prospect and ranked number 88 overall by ESPNHoopGurlz for the class of 2024, Arenas helped Sierra Canyon High School to a 62-4 overall record in her final two seasons on the squad including a 31-1 record in her junior season in 2023 and a number one national ranking for the majority of the 2023 campaign. In her senior year in 2024, Arenas helped Sierra Canyon to a 31-3 record and a final national ranking of ninth.In May of 2023, Arenas won the Queen of the Court event in Atlanta during the Overtime Elite Takeover. This event is a one-on-one showcase with some of the top female basketball players in the country.Arenas is the daughter of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, who played 12 seasons in the NBA.K-State concluded the 2024-25 season with its 19th NCAA Tournament bid and the fourth Sweet 16 appearance in program history. The Wildcats registered the second-most wins in a season in school history with 28 and tied for the second-most wins in a two-season span (54). K-State was ranked in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls for the entirety of the season.

K-State WBB Signs Arenas to 2025-26 Roster

The Mayor’s Cup softball crown still belongs to the Lady Cougars following a two-game sweep that saw Salina South stave off two late Central comebacks to earn wins of 4-2 and 6-3.

Game One: Salina South 4, Salina Central 2

The opener of this two-game set was a pitchers duel throughout, with South’s Paityn Fritz and Central’s Valerie VanZant dealing for seven innings.

Offensively, VanZant would be the one to get the Lady Mustangs on the board, coming around to score on a passed ball in the second inning for the game's first run.

In the circle, VanZant would record 13 strikeouts, and looked unhittable the first time through the order, but in the fourth, Salina South straightened out the bats, tying the game on a Chloe Helsel single before stranding the bases loaded.

Neither team scored in the fifth, but in the sixth, Helsel struck again, this time scoring two on an RBI double to the fence before coming in to score herself on an RBI triple from Brylee Moss.

The Lady Mustangs would plate a second run in the seventh but left the tying run at second as South claimed game one.

Paityn Fritz picked up her fifth win of the season in the circle, allowing just one earned run, striking out eight while walking just three.

Game Two: Salina South 6, Salina Central 3

South was quicker to get on the board in game number two, scoring two runs in just four batters to lead off the home half of the first.

Breckon Webb would follow that up with a solo home run in the second inning to put the Lady Cougars up 3-0, but in the visitors’ third, Central finally broke through on another RBI single by VanZant.

Paityn Fritz’s second hit of the game, this time an RBI double to bring in Mackenzie Langer, pushed the lead back out to three where it would sit until the top of the fifth.

Another pair of RBI knocks for Macy Yost and Brylee Moss would help put this game out of reach as the Lady Mustangs stranded the bases loaded in the seventh, ending the game 6-3.

Macy Yost claimed the win in the circle, allowing just three runs on four hits and adding three strikeouts to her total.

With this sweep, Salina South improves to 11-3 while Central slides to 9-3.

The Lady Mustangs return to Salina to host Hutch on Tuesday while the Lady Cougars travel to Maize to battle the Eagles.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThe Mayor’s Cup softball crown still belongs to the Lady Cougars following a two-game sweep that saw Salina South stave off two late Central comebacks to earn wins of 4-2 and 6-3.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715807615208.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Game One: Salina South 4, Salina Central 2The opener of this two-game set was a pitchers duel throughout, with South’s Paityn Fritz and Central’s Valerie VanZant dealing for seven innings.Offensively, VanZant would be the one to get the Lady Mustangs on the board, coming around to score on a passed ball in the second inning for the game's first run.In the circle, VanZant would record 13 strikeouts, and looked unhittable the first time through the order, but in the fourth, Salina South straightened out the bats, tying the game on a Chloe Helsel single before stranding the bases loaded.Neither team scored in the fifth, but in the sixth, Helsel struck again, this time scoring two on an RBI double to the fence before coming in to score herself on an RBI triple from Brylee Moss.The Lady Mustangs would plate a second run in the seventh but left the tying run at second as South claimed game one.Paityn Fritz picked up her fifth win of the season in the circle, allowing just one earned run, striking out eight while walking just three.Game Two: Salina South 6, Salina Central 3South was quicker to get on the board in game number two, scoring two runs in just four batters to lead off the home half of the first.Breckon Webb would follow that up with a solo home run in the second inning to put the Lady Cougars up 3-0, but in the visitors’ third, Central finally broke through on another RBI single by VanZant.Paityn Fritz’s second hit of the game, this time an RBI double to bring in Mackenzie Langer, pushed the lead back out to three where it would sit until the top of the fifth.Another pair of RBI knocks for Macy Yost and Brylee Moss would help put this game out of reach as the Lady Mustangs stranded the bases loaded in the seventh, ending the game 6-3.Macy Yost claimed the win in the circle, allowing just three runs on four hits and adding three strikeouts to her total.With this sweep, Salina South improves to 11-3 while Central slides to 9-3.The Lady Mustangs return to Salina to host Hutch on Tuesday while the Lady Cougars travel to Maize to battle the Eagles.

🥎 Salina South sweeps Central to win fourth straight

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Softball picked up a big doubleheader split with the Evangel Valor on Friday.

After dropping the first game 3-0, the Coyotes got a 2-1 win in the second game for the split.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/06455f8d-8a00-4a31-ab63-d6dfcf25b5d7?elinkdata=25219">Briannah Kutschkau's</a> diving catch in the bottom of the seventh of the second game was the play of the day, keeping the game-tying run from scoring and ending the game .

The first game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Evangel got a run on the board on a double. The Valor added two more runs in the fifth on a triple and sacrifice fly.

The Coyotes were limited to two hits in the game, one by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/793f81ad-360e-4083-97dc-42397ce746d6?elinkdata=25219">Hailey Summers</a> and the other by Kutschka.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/35c74d29-3db0-4939-bf87-132b4be9945a?elinkdata=25219">Keira Hammen</a> led off the third inning of the second game with a double, and then pinch runner <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/564fca31-0643-41d0-bfe5-1dcaaa0357e9?elinkdata=25219">Krista Yackeyonny</a> scored on a double by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/204d67e2-7f90-4ff3-b1b1-85e532ca57d1?elinkdata=25219">Trenity Miller</a>.

Evangel tied it up in the bottom of the fourth with a run.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/150d0a07-948e-4530-bf93-7691913febe3?elinkdata=25219">Grace Pierce</a> homered in the sixth to put the Coyotes up 2-1.

Evangel had a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the seventh, but a pop out on a bunt, a ground out and then the line out to end it would strand the runner and give the Coyotes the win.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cc2146b8-c7bc-4350-b0e7-12879a6b12a9?elinkdata=25219">Alli Mickelsen</a> had another outstanding performance in the game with a complete game, allowing the one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts.

Hammen and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ce1a5955-0253-47d0-adcd-3fccee2d1947?elinkdata=25219">Josie Buhr</a> had two hits each.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Softball picked up a big doubleheader split with the Evangel Valor on Friday.After dropping the first game 3-0, the Coyotes got a 2-1 win in the second game for the split.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/06455f8d-8a00-4a31-ab63-d6dfcf25b5d7?elinkdata=25219">Briannah Kutschkau's</a> diving catch in the bottom of the seventh of the second game was the play of the day, keeping the game-tying run from scoring and ending the game .The first game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Evangel got a run on the board on a double. The Valor added two more runs in the fifth on a triple and sacrifice fly.The Coyotes were limited to two hits in the game, one by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/793f81ad-360e-4083-97dc-42397ce746d6?elinkdata=25219">Hailey Summers</a> and the other by Kutschka.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/35c74d29-3db0-4939-bf87-132b4be9945a?elinkdata=25219">Keira Hammen</a> led off the third inning of the second game with a double, and then pinch runner <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/564fca31-0643-41d0-bfe5-1dcaaa0357e9?elinkdata=25219">Krista Yackeyonny</a> scored on a double by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/204d67e2-7f90-4ff3-b1b1-85e532ca57d1?elinkdata=25219">Trenity Miller</a>.Evangel tied it up in the bottom of the fourth with a run.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/150d0a07-948e-4530-bf93-7691913febe3?elinkdata=25219">Grace Pierce</a> homered in the sixth to put the Coyotes up 2-1.Evangel had a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the seventh, but a pop out on a bunt, a ground out and then the line out to end it would strand the runner and give the Coyotes the win.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cc2146b8-c7bc-4350-b0e7-12879a6b12a9?elinkdata=25219">Alli Mickelsen</a> had another outstanding performance in the game with a complete game, allowing the one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts.Hammen and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ce1a5955-0253-47d0-adcd-3fccee2d1947?elinkdata=25219">Josie Buhr</a> had two hits each.

Coyote softball gets big split with Evangel

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - Kansas Wesleyan and Oklahoma Wesleyan split Friday's doubleheader between the top two teams in the Kansas Conference. KWU won the first game 6-1, but lost the second 10-6.

OKWU ends up with the series win after the Eagles won on Thursday.

The Coyotes put single tallies on the board in six different innings to get the win.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ef9d2f0d-365f-464a-a837-6aadb031ac94?elinkdata=25188">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> homered in the second, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/57d853b0-0d48-48b1-ba50-e1274964ba90?elinkdata=25188">Garrett Garfield</a> singled home a run in the third to make it 2-0 Coyotes.

In the fifth, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/467878dc-8338-469a-9af4-8d497cd83de1?elinkdata=25188">Eric Romero</a> scores when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/00e42d1c-326e-44e7-9f4f-36ab3229c891?elinkdata=25188">Tyler Favretto</a> reached on an error in the inning.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/82c624bc-feec-492a-b7bd-6013ffe78c85?elinkdata=25188">Carter Allen</a> added a run with a homer in the sixth.

OKWU answered back with a homer of its own in the bottom of the sixth, but the Coyotes got two more runs on a <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b272c9a7-1822-45e4-8e7e-1581bd51cbf3?elinkdata=25188">Blake Dale</a> sacrifice fly in the eighth and a homer by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/350fc14a-fa2f-4899-ab8e-83b6031b4fca?elinkdata=25188">Jacob Williamson</a> in the ninth.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3cc379ce-16b8-4b2a-b95d-00ff930c49ba?elinkdata=25188">Brett Maddock</a> got the win in a complete game performance.

OKWU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added single runs in the second and third before putting four on the board in the fifth.

The Coyote bats awakened late as KWU put four up in the sixth as Ruvalcaba knocked in a run with a hit, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3a58a434-8b45-49a1-8c38-249b8b84c88c?elinkdata=25188">Alex Garcia</a> scored on a wild pitch, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c1842a4e-4457-4205-a613-08b569fa823d?elinkdata=25188">Joe Finder</a> had an RBI ground out and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b1582aa1-b6f3-4e9e-9fa0-a1ea89ca44e3?elinkdata=25188">Coulson Riggs</a> had a single to bring in a run.

After OKWU got one back in the bottom of the inning, the Coyotes got two more in the last on Garfield's RBI double and Finder drove in one with a sacrifice fly.

Garfield and Allen had two hits each for the Coyotes.

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - Kansas Wesleyan and Oklahoma Wesleyan split Friday's doubleheader between the top two teams in the Kansas Conference. KWU won the first game 6-1, but lost the second 10-6.OKWU ends up with the series win after the Eagles won on Thursday.The Coyotes put single tallies on the board in six different innings to get the win.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ef9d2f0d-365f-464a-a837-6aadb031ac94?elinkdata=25188">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> homered in the second, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/57d853b0-0d48-48b1-ba50-e1274964ba90?elinkdata=25188">Garrett Garfield</a> singled home a run in the third to make it 2-0 Coyotes.In the fifth, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/467878dc-8338-469a-9af4-8d497cd83de1?elinkdata=25188">Eric Romero</a> scores when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/00e42d1c-326e-44e7-9f4f-36ab3229c891?elinkdata=25188">Tyler Favretto</a> reached on an error in the inning.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/82c624bc-feec-492a-b7bd-6013ffe78c85?elinkdata=25188">Carter Allen</a> added a run with a homer in the sixth.OKWU answered back with a homer of its own in the bottom of the sixth, but the Coyotes got two more runs on a <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b272c9a7-1822-45e4-8e7e-1581bd51cbf3?elinkdata=25188">Blake Dale</a> sacrifice fly in the eighth and a homer by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/350fc14a-fa2f-4899-ab8e-83b6031b4fca?elinkdata=25188">Jacob Williamson</a> in the ninth.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3cc379ce-16b8-4b2a-b95d-00ff930c49ba?elinkdata=25188">Brett Maddock</a> got the win in a complete game performance.OKWU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added single runs in the second and third before putting four on the board in the fifth.The Coyote bats awakened late as KWU put four up in the sixth as Ruvalcaba knocked in a run with a hit, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3a58a434-8b45-49a1-8c38-249b8b84c88c?elinkdata=25188">Alex Garcia</a> scored on a wild pitch, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c1842a4e-4457-4205-a613-08b569fa823d?elinkdata=25188">Joe Finder</a> had an RBI ground out and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b1582aa1-b6f3-4e9e-9fa0-a1ea89ca44e3?elinkdata=25188">Coulson Riggs</a> had a single to bring in a run.After OKWU got one back in the bottom of the inning, the Coyotes got two more in the last on Garfield's RBI double and Finder drove in one with a sacrifice fly.Garfield and Allen had two hits each for the Coyotes.

KWU baseball splits with Oklahoma Wesleyan, drops series

It figured to be a battle to the end between two of Kansas Wesleyan's top middle-distance runners and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dcc1dc6d-3836-4782-8212-15f59fa88f27?elinkdata=25095">Wyatt Johnson</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e3d66d9b-ac43-4a29-9044-594259ca11d0?elinkdata=25095">Julian Avila</a> certainly did not disappoint.

Johnson edged Avila at the finish line in winning the men's 800 meters in the Coyote Challenge on Friday night at JRI Hospitality Stadium in the Graves Family Sports Complex. Johnson's winning time was 1:53.67 while Avila was a close second in 1:54.22 on cold and blustery night.

"Julian was an individual qualifier and (NAIA) All-American indoors and Wyatt was an All-American on the relays so anytime you put those guys on the track it's going to be fast," coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/801cdd35-7bdd-489b-9b2d-4aa2d587c445?elinkdata=25095">Kyle Hiser</a> said. "And you throw <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fed7994f-53ea-4fae-aa1d-2213c91b530e?elinkdata=25095">Triston Cottone</a> (sixth in 1:55.59) and Ty (Davidson, seventh in 1:56.58) putting their noses in it too and having some fun too."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4a8100d5-cbb7-4e92-a668-f9a30cd5c05a?elinkdata=25095">Giovanni Rios</a> took ninth (1:57.87) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1816e691-8f98-4507-a204-70ad40254021?elinkdata=25095">Nate Chavez</a> 10th (1:59.04) giving KWU six of the top 10 finishers. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a1773754-4c59-4a54-9152-8070561bd464?elinkdata=25095">Austin Schaeffer</a> was 26th (2:02.15), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/198d0dfc-d231-4291-8605-bf73a2467977?elinkdata=25095">Nicolas Martinez</a> 28th (2:02.31), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8451472d-842c-4db5-acb5-ed0b96947fa7?elinkdata=25095">Ian Doss</a> 35th (2:04.16) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/77c3b9d3-fe18-45d8-b807-a7f0c0a830af?elinkdata=25095">Will Childers</a> 50th (2:19.61).

The event is the first home track meet for KWU since the Kansas Conference championships in 2019.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6e01dad7-945b-42a8-b499-f894db7824b6?elinkdata=25095">Keegan Lott</a>, who has qualified for the NAIA National Championships in the javelin, won Friday's event on his home turf with a throw of 50.01 meters. Matthew Lucas was fifth (49.45) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4a5fcb79-49c4-42ed-b547-f6f53bf4209a?elinkdata=25095">Riley Garcia</a> 25th (30.25).

Freshman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e9c9ecfb-562e-4aac-9e3d-5409f5d24ff2?elinkdata=25095">Evan Pearce</a> placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:43.02) and looked like a seasoned veteran in the process. Brendan Ellis took fourth (9:58.79).

"Evan was making his debut and looked really strong," Hiser said. "Really, really good race for him as a freshman and looked really confident throughout the race. He's a tall kid so getting over those barriers is pretty easy."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3b571adb-6de0-487a-9b13-3e33b61b4741?elinkdata=25095">Damion Jackson</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cbd34895-897b-4648-b59d-d48b58f70923?elinkdata=25095">Austin Hess</a> were magnificent in the 5,000 meters, Jackson placing third (15:07.10) and Hess fourth (15:24.13). Teammates <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/496b2949-ede0-4a67-b8bd-f437a16f9077?elinkdata=25095">Cisco Alvarez</a> took eighth (16:13.79) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9f3cf3c7-a1e0-4d4f-9c37-5cb29d269279?elinkdata=25095">Brodie Bradshaw</a> ninth (16:18.73).

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1b9825a8-45db-49c3-9360-7ccac96a6df4?elinkdata=25095">Giovanni Rios</a> was the Coyotes' top finisher in the 1,500 meters crossing the finish line in sixth place (4:00.38).

"Gio looked really strong and ran a really good race," Hiser said.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9b24cb86-1a33-4c84-bda0-998c1a7146d5?elinkdata=25095">Tytus Reed</a> was 11th (4:10.97), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/94a35573-6ae8-431d-ac92-49ea8670cc86?elinkdata=25095">Austin Schaeffer</a> 14th (4:15.12), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3ad224e8-2ec0-4ce5-bd65-8646048eb028?elinkdata=25095">Ian Doss</a> 15th (4:15.52), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4d6d0bab-d123-411b-a2c3-3483ad58b054?elinkdata=25095">Jack Horacek</a> 27th (4:32.37), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e5d111d8-ece7-43ff-9019-563f5ccb85b8?elinkdata=25095">Tim Parish</a> 34th (4:38.16) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/29fdb2c0-8b43-4286-b304-ec8fb83ce6c5?elinkdata=25095">Will Childers</a> 35th (4:40.60).

In the hammer throw Keyon Baccus placed 35th (29.56) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/efce68bf-0c42-49a4-818f-d66e49caf6c2?elinkdata=25095">Dylan Worrell</a> 36th (28.33).

It figured to be a battle to the end between two of Kansas Wesleyan's top middle-distance runners and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dcc1dc6d-3836-4782-8212-15f59fa88f27?elinkdata=25095">Wyatt Johnson</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e3d66d9b-ac43-4a29-9044-594259ca11d0?elinkdata=25095">Julian Avila</a> certainly did not disappoint.Johnson edged Avila at the finish line in winning the men's 800 meters in the Coyote Challenge on Friday night at JRI Hospitality Stadium in the Graves Family Sports Complex. Johnson's winning time was 1:53.67 while Avila was a close second in 1:54.22 on cold and blustery night."Julian was an individual qualifier and (NAIA) All-American indoors and Wyatt was an All-American on the relays so anytime you put those guys on the track it's going to be fast," coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/801cdd35-7bdd-489b-9b2d-4aa2d587c445?elinkdata=25095">Kyle Hiser</a> said. "And you throw <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fed7994f-53ea-4fae-aa1d-2213c91b530e?elinkdata=25095">Triston Cottone</a> (sixth in 1:55.59) and Ty (Davidson, seventh in 1:56.58) putting their noses in it too and having some fun too."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4a8100d5-cbb7-4e92-a668-f9a30cd5c05a?elinkdata=25095">Giovanni Rios</a> took ninth (1:57.87) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1816e691-8f98-4507-a204-70ad40254021?elinkdata=25095">Nate Chavez</a> 10th (1:59.04) giving KWU six of the top 10 finishers. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a1773754-4c59-4a54-9152-8070561bd464?elinkdata=25095">Austin Schaeffer</a> was 26th (2:02.15), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/198d0dfc-d231-4291-8605-bf73a2467977?elinkdata=25095">Nicolas Martinez</a> 28th (2:02.31), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8451472d-842c-4db5-acb5-ed0b96947fa7?elinkdata=25095">Ian Doss</a> 35th (2:04.16) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/77c3b9d3-fe18-45d8-b807-a7f0c0a830af?elinkdata=25095">Will Childers</a> 50th (2:19.61).The event is the first home track meet for KWU since the Kansas Conference championships in 2019.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6e01dad7-945b-42a8-b499-f894db7824b6?elinkdata=25095">Keegan Lott</a>, who has qualified for the NAIA National Championships in the javelin, won Friday's event on his home turf with a throw of 50.01 meters. Matthew Lucas was fifth (49.45) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4a5fcb79-49c4-42ed-b547-f6f53bf4209a?elinkdata=25095">Riley Garcia</a> 25th (30.25).Freshman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e9c9ecfb-562e-4aac-9e3d-5409f5d24ff2?elinkdata=25095">Evan Pearce</a> placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:43.02) and looked like a seasoned veteran in the process. Brendan Ellis took fourth (9:58.79)."Evan was making his debut and looked really strong," Hiser said. "Really, really good race for him as a freshman and looked really confident throughout the race. He's a tall kid so getting over those barriers is pretty easy."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3b571adb-6de0-487a-9b13-3e33b61b4741?elinkdata=25095">Damion Jackson</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cbd34895-897b-4648-b59d-d48b58f70923?elinkdata=25095">Austin Hess</a> were magnificent in the 5,000 meters, Jackson placing third (15:07.10) and Hess fourth (15:24.13). Teammates <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/496b2949-ede0-4a67-b8bd-f437a16f9077?elinkdata=25095">Cisco Alvarez</a> took eighth (16:13.79) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9f3cf3c7-a1e0-4d4f-9c37-5cb29d269279?elinkdata=25095">Brodie Bradshaw</a> ninth (16:18.73).<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1b9825a8-45db-49c3-9360-7ccac96a6df4?elinkdata=25095">Giovanni Rios</a> was the Coyotes' top finisher in the 1,500 meters crossing the finish line in sixth place (4:00.38)."Gio looked really strong and ran a really good race," Hiser said.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9b24cb86-1a33-4c84-bda0-998c1a7146d5?elinkdata=25095">Tytus Reed</a> was 11th (4:10.97), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/94a35573-6ae8-431d-ac92-49ea8670cc86?elinkdata=25095">Austin Schaeffer</a> 14th (4:15.12), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3ad224e8-2ec0-4ce5-bd65-8646048eb028?elinkdata=25095">Ian Doss</a> 15th (4:15.52), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4d6d0bab-d123-411b-a2c3-3483ad58b054?elinkdata=25095">Jack Horacek</a> 27th (4:32.37), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e5d111d8-ece7-43ff-9019-563f5ccb85b8?elinkdata=25095">Tim Parish</a> 34th (4:38.16) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/29fdb2c0-8b43-4286-b304-ec8fb83ce6c5?elinkdata=25095">Will Childers</a> 35th (4:40.60).In the hammer throw Keyon Baccus placed 35th (29.56) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/efce68bf-0c42-49a4-818f-d66e49caf6c2?elinkdata=25095">Dylan Worrell</a> 36th (28.33).

Johnson, Avila 800m duel highlights first day of Coyote Challenge

Maddy Wolf is on a roll for the Kansas Wesleyan women's track and field team.

Wolf, a freshman, was named the Kansas Conference's Field Athlete of the Week on Tuesday after a fourth-place finish in the javelin at the prestigious KT Woodman Classic last weekend in Wichita. Her throw of 44.04 meters qualified her for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships next month and was the second-farthest throw in KWU history.

Wolf showed it was no fluke by winning the javelin in the Coyote Challenge on Friday with a throw of 43.18 meters on a chilly, blustery day. The two-day event resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday and is the first KWU home track and field meet since the 2019 KCAC Championships.

"She hit another (NAIA) standard again, it wasn't an improvement on her mark, but consistency is what we've been looking for," coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/86101778-10f7-4cfb-ad4e-47ec29701fd0?elinkdata=25064">Kyle Hiser</a> said of Wolf.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ed5f8803-572a-49d3-a73e-1b12b4f96265?elinkdata=25064">Mayce Russell</a> placed third (36.96) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/339d4110-b277-4c79-94af-6d127342c96d?elinkdata=25064">Aunisty McNeal</a> seventh (34.01) for KWU.

"Mayce's been battling a little bit of an elbow injury, so she got three throws in and we shut her down after that," Hiser said. "I told the ladies I think that's the first time we've had women's javelin throwers throw here at Kansas Wesleyan, so it was pretty cool to see."

Friday's competition included the javelin and hammer throws and four distance running events. Saturday's slate features the remainder of the field events along with the jumps and sprints at JRI Hospitality Stadium in the Graves Family Sports Complex and throws venue on Coronado Avenue.

Hiser was pleased with the way the women performed in less-than-ideal conditions.

"All of our gals on the distance side just came out and battled it tonight," he said. "Little windy, little cold but they put their nose in the from the get-go and everyone was racing competitively up towards the front."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/05ab9b0e-4815-4cdd-8181-cc4b4b5c2e5b?elinkdata=25064">Josie Koppes</a> led a large group of Coyotes in the 800 meters that consisted of four heats. Koppes placed seventh (2:2104) followed by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6495869e-d050-471c-9f43-ec2d32340977?elinkdata=25064">Hailey Nordhus</a> in eighth (2:22.28).

"We were kind of training her as a 5K, 3K girl earlier in the year and she's shown us she wants to be an 800 runner," Hiser said of Koppes. "She looks really strong."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c946c19a-169f-4db8-8226-fc4d8fc33fb6?elinkdata=25064">Joni Schroeder</a> placed 16th (2:27.86), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a94f6738-beef-478d-8fa7-b4c281b83ad9?elinkdata=25064">Shelby Lingle</a> 20th (2:28.82), Makalyla Little 22nd (2:30.35), Ava Kenyo 24th (2:31.89), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c321f319-1335-41b7-ae0a-997c700a07bb?elinkdata=25064">Mya Schweitzer</a> 25th (2:32.01), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/535df13d-33e0-4895-9da8-c168fcfe2eb7?elinkdata=25064">Kierra Jensen</a> 27th (2:32.68), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b3ce1bab-b872-4dae-81c9-b5af9a52ed2b?elinkdata=25064">Lauryn Mikkelson</a> 28th (2:33.19), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c8d6b7dc-c470-4fc8-b0b9-6e39c62368f8?elinkdata=25064">Emma McAlister</a> 38th (2:42.17), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2658d06a-c884-4c69-9f26-c2c0206d9b7d?elinkdata=25064">Allyson Taylor</a> 40th (2:45.50) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f37e4069-5591-42b2-b22e-bfd237d6f256?elinkdata=25064">Micah Dickens</a> 41st (2:45.87).

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fdef49e7-4c97-45d0-840e-d92f7172ac9f?elinkdata=25064">Madisyn Ehrlich</a> was the top Coyote finisher in the 1,500 meters taking eighth (4:53.05).

"She ran okay," Hiser said. "We've been trying to get a little bit more confidence. She was really fast in the early part of the year in some of those big fields and we're just trying to get back into racing and putting yourself in position."

Jensen was 13th (5:04.54), Schweitzer 19th (5:13.75), McAlister 24th (5:21.42), Dickens 26th (5:22.06) and Taylor 28th (5:23.14).

Maddy Wolf is on a roll for the Kansas Wesleyan women's track and field team.Wolf, a freshman, was named the Kansas Conference's Field Athlete of the Week on Tuesday after a fourth-place finish in the javelin at the prestigious KT Woodman Classic last weekend in Wichita. Her throw of 44.04 meters qualified her for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships next month and was the second-farthest throw in KWU history.Wolf showed it was no fluke by winning the javelin in the Coyote Challenge on Friday with a throw of 43.18 meters on a chilly, blustery day. The two-day event resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday and is the first KWU home track and field meet since the 2019 KCAC Championships."She hit another (NAIA) standard again, it wasn't an improvement on her mark, but consistency is what we've been looking for," coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/86101778-10f7-4cfb-ad4e-47ec29701fd0?elinkdata=25064">Kyle Hiser</a> said of Wolf.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ed5f8803-572a-49d3-a73e-1b12b4f96265?elinkdata=25064">Mayce Russell</a> placed third (36.96) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/339d4110-b277-4c79-94af-6d127342c96d?elinkdata=25064">Aunisty McNeal</a> seventh (34.01) for KWU."Mayce's been battling a little bit of an elbow injury, so she got three throws in and we shut her down after that," Hiser said. "I told the ladies I think that's the first time we've had women's javelin throwers throw here at Kansas Wesleyan, so it was pretty cool to see."Friday's competition included the javelin and hammer throws and four distance running events. Saturday's slate features the remainder of the field events along with the jumps and sprints at JRI Hospitality Stadium in the Graves Family Sports Complex and throws venue on Coronado Avenue.Hiser was pleased with the way the women performed in less-than-ideal conditions."All of our gals on the distance side just came out and battled it tonight," he said. "Little windy, little cold but they put their nose in the from the get-go and everyone was racing competitively up towards the front."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/05ab9b0e-4815-4cdd-8181-cc4b4b5c2e5b?elinkdata=25064">Josie Koppes</a> led a large group of Coyotes in the 800 meters that consisted of four heats. Koppes placed seventh (2:2104) followed by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6495869e-d050-471c-9f43-ec2d32340977?elinkdata=25064">Hailey Nordhus</a> in eighth (2:22.28)."We were kind of training her as a 5K, 3K girl earlier in the year and she's shown us she wants to be an 800 runner," Hiser said of Koppes. "She looks really strong."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c946c19a-169f-4db8-8226-fc4d8fc33fb6?elinkdata=25064">Joni Schroeder</a> placed 16th (2:27.86), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a94f6738-beef-478d-8fa7-b4c281b83ad9?elinkdata=25064">Shelby Lingle</a> 20th (2:28.82), Makalyla Little 22nd (2:30.35), Ava Kenyo 24th (2:31.89), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c321f319-1335-41b7-ae0a-997c700a07bb?elinkdata=25064">Mya Schweitzer</a> 25th (2:32.01), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/535df13d-33e0-4895-9da8-c168fcfe2eb7?elinkdata=25064">Kierra Jensen</a> 27th (2:32.68), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b3ce1bab-b872-4dae-81c9-b5af9a52ed2b?elinkdata=25064">Lauryn Mikkelson</a> 28th (2:33.19), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c8d6b7dc-c470-4fc8-b0b9-6e39c62368f8?elinkdata=25064">Emma McAlister</a> 38th (2:42.17), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2658d06a-c884-4c69-9f26-c2c0206d9b7d?elinkdata=25064">Allyson Taylor</a> 40th (2:45.50) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f37e4069-5591-42b2-b22e-bfd237d6f256?elinkdata=25064">Micah Dickens</a> 41st (2:45.87).<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fdef49e7-4c97-45d0-840e-d92f7172ac9f?elinkdata=25064">Madisyn Ehrlich</a> was the top Coyote finisher in the 1,500 meters taking eighth (4:53.05)."She ran okay," Hiser said. "We've been trying to get a little bit more confidence. She was really fast in the early part of the year in some of those big fields and we're just trying to get back into racing and putting yourself in position."Jensen was 13th (5:04.54), Schweitzer 19th (5:13.75), McAlister 24th (5:21.42), Dickens 26th (5:22.06) and Taylor 28th (5:23.14).

Wolf's win in javelin highlights Day 1 of Coyote Challenge

DETROIT (AP) — Tomás Nido and Andy Ibáñez hit solo homers and rookie Jackson Jobe pitched five strong innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino's double for a 1-0 lead.

Nido, who went 3 for 4, homered for the first time with the Tigers to tie it in the second. Ibáñez's solo shot leading off the fourth put them ahead for good.

Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to chase Royals starter Cole Ragans (1-1), whose team record-tying streak of three straight starts with 10-plus strikeouts ended. Ragans gave up five runs on six hits in four innings, striking out eight for a major league-best 39.

Witt singled and scored on Pasquantino's single in the ninth off Kenta Maeda. Tommy Kahnle got the final two outs for his fourth save.

The Royals have lost five straight and are 1-7 so far on a 10-game road trip.

The Royals sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Kahnle struck out Cavan Biggio before Drew Waters lined out to end it.

The Royals began the day averaging 2.95 runs — ahead of only the Rockies. They have scored four runs or less in 19 of 21 games and haven’t scored more than four since April 4 against Baltimore.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745028333160.jpeg" alt="Detroit Tigers' Tomás Nido hits a one-run single against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning during a baseball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)" />
 <figcaption>Detroit Tigers' Tomás Nido hits a one-run single against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning during a baseball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Tomás Nido and Andy Ibáñez hit solo homers and rookie Jackson Jobe pitched five strong innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run double in the seventh for his AL-leading 13th extra-base hit for the Tigers.Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino's double for a 1-0 lead.Nido, who went 3 for 4, homered for the first time with the Tigers to tie it in the second. Ibáñez's solo shot leading off the fourth put them ahead for good.Jobe (2-0) allowed one run on five hits.Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to chase Royals starter Cole Ragans (1-1), whose team record-tying streak of three straight starts with 10-plus strikeouts ended. Ragans gave up five runs on six hits in four innings, striking out eight for a major league-best 39.Witt singled and scored on Pasquantino's single in the ninth off Kenta Maeda. Tommy Kahnle got the final two outs for his fourth save.The Royals have lost five straight and are 1-7 so far on a 10-game road trip.<h2>Key moment</h2>The Royals sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Kahnle struck out Cavan Biggio before Drew Waters lined out to end it.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals began the day averaging 2.95 runs — ahead of only the Rockies. They have scored four runs or less in 19 of 21 games and haven’t scored more than four since April 4 against Baltimore.<h2>Up next</h2>