WINONA LAKE, Ind.. - The Ottawa University Arizona track & field team completed day one of the NCCAA National Championships on Thursday afternoon at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. The Spirit had athletes competing in the women's triple jump, women's discus, men's 400m dash, women's 100m dash and 200m dash.

The day began with the Women's triple jump at Grace College's Bernard and Linnie Key Track and Field Complex. Raiven Ellis, a senior from Cerritos, CA, came into this meet ranked 2nd in the NCCAA from her performance at the California Collegiate Open jumping a distance of 11.83m. Ellis began her performance at the NCCAA National Championships building to her winning jump. Missing the mark on the first two jumps and then improving her distance on each subsequent jump, she launched herself to a National Champion, All-American, Personal Record, and a first-place finish. In her final attempt, Ellis jumped 12.41m (40' 8.5") beating out the first placeholder, Hyman from Warner College, by 11.8 inches. Ellis will compete again tomorrow in the long jump.

In response to the question, "How does it feel to be OUAZ Track and Field's first national champion in school history?". Ellis responded, "It's one of the best feelings in the world. I trained and worked hard for so long and I can finally say that I am a National Champion! I am so happy to have achieved my goal. To PR at the end of the season and win the championship is a great way to wrap up my season."
 
Dominating again in the field events, Hannah White, a Freshman dual-sport athlete from Chandler, AZ, competed in the discus throw. Coming into this meet White was ranked 6th from her performance at the Steve Scott Invite with a distance of 40.63m. In her performance for this National Championship, Hannah threw her farthest distance in the first attempt. Her throw of 41.17m gave her the third-place finish, personal record, and reserved her spot as an All-American. Hannah competes again tomorrow in the Hammer Throw and in the Shot Put where she is ranked 3rd in the NCCAA.
 
In the track events, Darius Allen, a junior from New Orleans, LA, competed in the 400m dash. He finished 6th in his preliminary heat ending his outdoor track and field season.
 
For the women, Monnie Spears-Rogers competed in the 100m and 200m preliminary heats today. In the 100m, Monnie ran a 12.38 with a sixth-place finish earning her a bid to the finals tomorrow. In the 200m Monnie finished 10th of 20 competitors, missing her bid to the finals by one spot.
 
With the women's performance today, their team score sits in third place with 16 points. Click here for full results.
 
Tomorrow the Spirit continue to compete in several events. The first event of the day will be Jordan Minor in the men's long jump starting at 8:00 am AZ time.
   
 
About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 4,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek, and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu.
 
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.