Hutchinson CC Sports Information

PITTSBURG – Hutchinson Community College sophomore distance runner Louise Cocking qualified for the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in a second event on Sunday at the KJCCC/Region VI Invitational at the Plaster Center.

Cocking won the women's 5,000 meters on Sunday with a national qualifying time of 18:56.51. That mark is the second-fastest indoor 5,000-meter time in Blue Dragon history. Cocking is also qualified for the 3,000 meters last week at the All-Kansas Invitational.

Cocking also posted a second Top 5 Blue Dragon all-time indoor time. She finished third in the 1,000 meters with a time of 3:12.01. That time is the fifth-fastest in Blue Dragon indoor history.

The Blue Dragons now have three qualifiers for the 2022 Indoor national championships in March at the Plaster Center. Pole Vaulter Kiana Brown is the other qualifier.

The Blue Dragons had one other event winner on Sunday. Sophomore Noel Buckhaultz won the Mile run with a time of 5:26.40, the fourth-best Mile indoor time in team history. Buckhaultz placed fifth in the 1,000 meters with a time of 3:18.13, the 11th-fastest time in team history.

Freshman Kenea Romney placed fourth in the 400 meters in a time of 1:00.25. She posted the fifth-fastest time in team history.

The Blue Dragons will next compete in the Herm Wilson Invitational at Wichita State on Friday and Saturday.