LA GRANDE, Ore. – The 2021 Corban University men's and women's track & field season has been an unconventional one, to say the least. Overcoming countless obstacles related to the COVID-19 pandemic and navigating numerous scheduling challenges along the way, the spring season for the Navy and Gold has been a test of the squads' resiliency and persistence.

Now, as the campaign begins to wind down, Corban looks eagerly ahead to this weekend's Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, which serve as an opportunity for the program to go toe-to-toe with the CCC's best in the conference's culminating meet.

Meet Central

The event will take place over the course of both Friday and Saturday, with a full schedule of events available HERE. 

Due to COVID-19 guidelines, Eastern Oregon University will not be allowing spectators to attend the event in person. Instead, fans are encouraged to follow along with live results from the meet, which can be accessed HERE.

Overall, the Warriors will be sending 12 men and 13 women to the meet, looking to hold their own among one of the NAIA's most talented track & field conferences.

On the men's side, fans will want to keep an eye on Kenny Purnell, who has put together a historic season in the throwing events for the Navy and Gold. Having smashed his own school records in the shot put and hammer this spring, he ranks fourth in the shot put (48' 6.25"), ninth in the hammer, (162' 5") and seventh in the discus (141' 2").

Shane Davis has been running particularly well down the stretch for the Navy and Gold, and he will look to continue his upward trend at this weekend's meet. Davis currently ranks seventh in the CCC in the 800 meters (1:57.50).

Jacob Moore (40' 9") ranks sixth on the CCC performance list in the triple jump, and the Warriors feel as if he will only get better with more opportunities to compete.

On the women's side, Gracie Long is a legitimate All-Conference contender in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She has already earned an NAIA 'B' standard performance with her time of 11:28.21 at the Frank Haskins Invite, which currently ranks third on the CCC performance list. Both her and Sydney Nichol will also be running in the 1,500 meters, which figures to be a crowded and competitive field.

The women's 4x100-meter relay team has qualified for the NAIA Championships in each of the past two seasons, and the squad still boasts a seasoned and talented quartet, which consists of MacKenzie Wilson, Selina Newingham, Hannah Beaulieu, and Hero Peters. Wilson and Newingham will each compete in the 100-meter dash as well.

Kendra Murphy has her eyes on All-Conference accolades, sitting at No. 5 in the CCC in the high jump (5' 1"). If the experienced jumper stays healthy and competes at the level she has shown herself capable of, she could be a valuable point-getter for the Navy and Gold.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, Valerie Schmidt—who has already claimed the CCC Championship in the heptathlon for the Navy and Gold—recently suffered an injury, and her status for this weekend's action is uncertain.

Stay tuned to CorbanWarriors.com for recaps and results from this weekend's conference meet.