Record-breaking 4x800 relay qualifies for nationals at Last Chance Twilight

Davis Boggess knew that the TMU men's 4x800 relay team could be something special – it just hadn't reached its potential yet. But on Saturday it did.
 
Boggess, Zach Garey, Cameron Fooks and Kevin Pacheco combined to shatter the previous Master's record set in 2019 by over four seconds, running 7:42.77 at the Last Chance Twilight to also win the race as the only competing team.
 
"This race was a gift from the Lord," said Boggess, who ran the first leg of the relay. "I knew we had a better team this year, but it had been a challenge to put it together. We were humbled both times earlier this season in the 4x800, but God is so good and it made this race so much sweeter."
 
Timmy Sterkel, Garey, Boggess and Pacheco won the same event at the Golden State Athletic Conference Championships on April 23, but just missed out on a national-qualifying time.
 
The Last Chance Twilight offered one final opportunity for the men's 4x800 relay to book its ticket to the NAIA National Championships. Saturday's quartet took full advantage, shaving almost 10 seconds off TMU's GSAC-winning time to automatically qualify for nationals.
 
While Boggess and Co. now set their sights on contending for All-American status in less than two weeks, the junior said his team has even bigger goals in mind.
 
"Our biggest goal as a team and as a relay team is to preach the gospel through sport," Boggess said. "Our prayer is that we will be a great witness to others around us, so that they might see Christ in how we compete."
 
Pacheco followed-up an impressive 4x800 meter relay with a 10th-placed individual finish out of 61 runners in the open 800 meters (1:54.77).

Team captain Wesley Methum ran a personal-best time of 14:33.57 in the men's 5,000 meters to place 13th in a field of 75 runners. That time automatically qualifies Methum for nationals in the 5,000 meters, after the senior previously qualified for nationals in the 10,000 meters.
 
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Seanna Nalbandyan placed seventh overall and fourth in heat one, out of 14 total competitors, crossing the line in a time of 1:03.26. The senior finished as the top NAIA runner, beating NCAA Division I and II athletes in the process.
 
Ellen Palmgren placed 20th out of 30 runners in the women's 800 meters (2:20.23).
 
The NAIA National Championships are set to take place May 26-28 in Gulf Shores, Alabama at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.