It figured to be a battle to the end between two of Kansas Wesleyan's top middle-distance runners and Wyatt Johnson and Julian Avila 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 Kyle Hiser said. "And you throw Triston Cottone (sixth in 1:55.59) and Ty (Davidson, seventh in 1:56.58) putting their noses in it too and having some fun too."
Giovanni Rios took ninth (1:57.87) and Nate Chavez 10th (1:59.04) giving KWU six of the top 10 finishers. Austin Schaeffer was 26th (2:02.15), Nicolas Martinez 28th (2:02.31), Ian Doss 35th (2:04.16) and Will Childers 50th (2:19.61).
The event is the first home track meet for KWU since the Kansas Conference championships in 2019.
Keegan Lott, 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 Riley Garcia 25th (30.25).
Freshman Evan Pearce 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."
Damion Jackson and Austin Hess were magnificent in the 5,000 meters, Jackson placing third (15:07.10) and Hess fourth (15:24.13). Teammates Cisco Alvarez took eighth (16:13.79) and Brodie Bradshaw ninth (16:18.73).
Giovanni Rios 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.
Tytus Reed was 11th (4:10.97), Austin Schaeffer 14th (4:15.12), Ian Doss 15th (4:15.52), Jack Horacek 27th (4:32.37), Tim Parish 34th (4:38.16) and Will Childers 35th (4:40.60).
In the hammer throw Keyon Baccus placed 35th (29.56) and Dylan Worrell 36th (28.33).