BROOKINGS, S.D. – Jennah Carpenter made LC State history on Saturday with a national title in the high jump at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships. The Lewiston native became the first Warrior woman to win a title in indoor track and field, and the first to win a title in a field event in indoor or outdoor.
Carter Gordon and Geraldin Correa also had big days at the track. Both earned their first individual All-American honors and set records in their respective events.
“Wow, what can you say. We had a pretty good day three at nationals and the cherry on top was Jennah’s national title in the high jump,” Head Coach Mike Collins said. “Carter and G (Correa) got the day rolling with their respective races and earning their own All-American honors. All of these kids did the college and the community proud this week and I am very proud of how they and their coaches have approached everything, and we are already looking forward to the outdoor season. I am also excited about a new task that has been put in front of me of designing another national champion ring. I am sure I will find time on my schedule to get that done.”
Carpenter set a program-best mark in the high jump with a height of 1.73m. Both Carpenter and Huntington’s Erica Xayarath missed the bar at 1.76m, but Carpenter won the tiebreaker based on total attempts. The sophomore cruised over her first three heights without a miss.
“Jennah jumped way better today than she did in the pentathlon on Thursday and it paid off with having less misses than others which afforded her the title in the end,” Collins explained. “I know she has a lot of people to thank, including LC Volleyball, that gave her the opportunity to compete in track and field.”
Gordon earned the first All-American honor of his career with a fourth-place finish in the 600m. The sophomore broke the record he set on Friday with a time of 1:19.05. Gordon ran most of the race in the second half of the group before pushing past multiple runners to cross the line fourth.
Correa, an All-American in the outdoor 4x800m relay last season, clinched the first solo honor of her career with a sixth-place finish in the 800m. She bested the program record, set by Ariel Jensen in 2018, with a time of 2:13.37.
“Carter had a tough race with just a little bit too big of a gap with 200m to go to track down the winners,” Collins said. “Geraldin did just like yesterday and pushed the pace, leading much of the way and setting a new school record in the process. It is coming, and I see her winning a national title in the near future.”
Orofino’s Sydnie Zywina competed in her first national event in the triple jump. The sophomore hit a distance of 10.94m to place 28th.
“Sydnie did well in the triple jump, just a lot of newness and being on the national stage for the first time put a few jitters into her,” Collins said. “She will be better for the experience and will definitely be back in the future.”
