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Kisorio, Mattoon add three national titles

Kisorio, Mattoon add three national titles

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 6, 2010) – Silas Kisorio and Denise Mattoon capped off an already impressive showing at the NAIA Indoor National Track Meet with three more individual National Championship titles on Saturday.

To start off the final day of competition, Mattoon, ranked eighth heading into the event, secured her second national championship of the meet when she hurled the shot put 49 feet, one quarter inches.

“I was really happy about the weight [throw] and was hoping to win it coming into the meet,” Mattoon said. “The shot [put], on the other hand, was completely unexpected, as I was ranked eighth overall heading into the competition.”

Mattoon’s mark surpassed her previous school record of 46 feet, seven and a half inches and registers her as the first woman in program history to receive two national championships in the same year. A junior, Mattoon is only the second woman to receive two national championships overall with Peggy Murphy claiming two titles in the marathon in 1991 and 1993.

Not coming as any surprise, Kisorio clinched the title in both the mile and 800-meter runs on Saturday. The Eldoret, Kenya native, Kisorio, gapped the field in the mile run and eased off the final lap to jog across the finish line and win the event with a time of 4:03.69. The time bettered the national meet record of 4:03.74 set by Aron Rono, of Azusa Pacific, last year.

Not long after winning the mile, Kisorio competed in the 800-meter run. “The race went out slower,” said assistant coach Mark Thompson. “Silas came through, however, and gapped second place by a ways to ensure the win.” Kisorio clocked a 1:51.42 to win the event.

“Silas executed every plan to perfection in both the mile and 800,” said Thompson.

The title is Kisorio’s third in track and field, after winning the 800-meter title at the outdoor national meet a year ago, and fourth overall after winning the national cross country meet in 2009. Kisorio, only a junior, now holds 10 All-America awards, including four national titles, more than any athlete in OC’s history.

“Everything felt good,” said Kisorio. “It feels great, just awesome.”

“Silas did a great job and carried us through,” said head coach Randy Heath.

Another highlight to add to the meet came from Irene Masai who placed sixth in the women’s 800-meter run to earn All-America honors and set a new school record with a time of 2:17.28. The mark surpasses Rachel Snider’s previous time of 2:19.55.

“Irene put together the best race she’s had,” said Thompson. “She made a pass in the last 40 meters to get All-America.”

To put a slight damper on the day’s events, Frezer Legesse pulled out of the 1000-meter run after a bad hamstring cramp. Legesse was intending to compete on the men’s distance medley relay but was held out due to the coaches’ decision.

Geoffrey Njonjo ran in Legesse’s absence and the team crossed the line with a third-place finish. Njonjo led off the 1200-meter leg with a 3:10 before passing the baton to Brady Watson who carried it through 400 meters in 51.2 seconds. Brayden Barrientez ran the 800-meter leg in 1:58.3 before handing off to Kisorio who brought it home with a 4:02 mile carry to place third in 10:02.67.

“We had to make some adjustments,” said Heath, “but the guys came through for us and did well.”

At the close of competition, Kisorio left with two more awards. Kisorio won the Most Valuable Athlete and Highest Point Scorer at the NAIA Indoor National Track Meet to add to his array of accomplishments.

“Silas and Denise both had a great meet,” said Heath. “The two were outstanding.”

NAIA Championship Videos

-OC-