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Strong finish for Highlanders at NAIA Track & Field National Championships
Danielle Brenon at the NAIA Track & Field National Championships.HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The Houghton College Track and Field team sent three runners to the NAIA National Championship's hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University May 27-29, 2010. Junior Darby Emerson (Windsor, CO/ Windsor HS) set the tone for the Highlander's on day two of competition having already advanced through the preliminary rounds. Emerson broke the Houghton College 800 meter record running a scorching time of 2:12.54 and advanced to the finals.
Teammate Danielle Brenon ’12 (Endwell, NY/Maine Endwell) followed up Emerson's performance on day two by securing her spot in the finals of the Women's 5000 meter run with a third place finish in her heat of the qualifying rounds. Brenon's qualifying heat was one of the most exciting events of the day as it saw the top five runners finish within a half a second of each other.
With the mercury rising on the final day of competition temperatures reached the mid 90's and the competition heated up with the women's Marathon. Heather Sayre ’11 (Wellsboro, PA/ Wellsboro HS) represented Houghton for the second time in the women's marathon and sought to better her 11th place finish. This year’s extreme heat affected all runners and caused Sayre to struggle with nutrition in the race. She managed to find the strength to finish the grueling race in 21st place with a time of 3:38.33. Upon finishing the race Sayre commented, “I am determined to come back next year and run the marathon again.”
Competition continued to heat up as the lady Highlanders prepared to race in finals. Darby Emerson ran an inspiring 800m final, taking an impressive lead early on to attempt to secure her spot across the line. Unable to hold on to the pace she crossed the line in 8th place with a time of 2:13.16 for her best ever finish at the National Championships. Danielle Brenon competed in her first finals at the NAIA National Championships in the women's 5000 meters. She ran an inspiring race and stayed in the lead pack until the final 200meters where she fell back to a 9th place finish. Both athletes tested the limits of their abilities and pushed themselves to perform at the highest level.
The NAIA National Track and Field Championships concluded the Houghton College Track and Field season.
