Scots Will Send Four to NCAA Track & Field Championships
Three Scots Named USTFCCCA All-Region
MONMOUTH, Ill. (05/22/2021) — The Monmouth College Track and Field team will send four student-athletes to the NCAA Divison III Track & Field Championships next week in Greensboro, North Carolina. Drew Thaxton (Decatur, Illinois), Reed Wilson (Normal, Illinois), Kenzie Baker (Aledo, Illinois) and Jordan Peckham (Farmington, Illinois) will all compete at the NCAA Championships May 27-29 In addition, Thaxton, Wilson, and Baker were named All-Midwest Region by the United State Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Friday.
Thaxton will compete in the Shot Put at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 29. He ranks fourth in the nation after breaking his own school record on Thursday night with a throw of 17.55m (57' 7") at the Augustana Twilight Qualifier. Thaxton was named the Midwest Conference Field Performer of the Year at last week's Southern Division meet in Monmouth. He had the best shot put, discus throw and hammer throw in the MWC this season and won multiple Field Performer of the Week awards.
Wilson is tied for the ninth best Pole Vault this season after her cleared 4.91m (16' 1.25") at the MWC meet. The pole vault is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 27 with the prelims and the final on the same day. He won the pole vault at the Southern Division meet and his 4.91m mark is the best in the conference this season. The 4.91 is the best pole vault by any MWC student-athlete since current assistant coach Danny Evers won the NCAA National Championship at 5.40m in May 2018.
Baker will run in the 200m and she ranks eighth in the nation with a season-best of 24.56. The 200m prelims are Thursday at 4:55 p.m. ET with the finals set for Saturday at 2:40 p.m. ET. Baker was named the MWC Track Performer of the Year last weekend at the Southern Division meet after winning the 100m, 200m and 4x400m relay while also on the second-place 4x100m relay.
Peckham is ranked 19th in the 400m with a season best of 57.29 at Thursday's Augustana meet, the best 400m run in the MWC this season. The 400m prelims are ar 3 p.m. ET on Friday, May 28 with the finals set for 1:10 p.m. ET on Saturday. Peckham won the 400m at the MWC Southern Division meet while anchoring the Scots winning 4x400m relay team and finishing second to Baker in the 200m.