Karis Frankian became The Master’s College first women’s track & field athlete to earn an individual championship title when she finished first overall in the 5,000-meter final at the 36th Annual Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Alabama on May 28.
Frankian clocked in 17 minutes and 16.51 seconds, which earned her NAIA All-American honors in the 5,000 for the second time in her career at The Master’s College. Frankian is also a four-time Golden State Athletic Conference champion in the 5,000 (2013-2016), earning All-GSAC honors each season.
Earlier in the week on Thursday, Frankian placed second overall in the 10,000-meter final after running the event in 36:23.93. Frankian has earned NAIA All-American honors in the 10,000 for four consecutive years (2013-16), a feat never before accomplished by a TMC female athlete. She is also a four-time conference champion in 10,000 (2013-2016), and has earned All-GSAC honors for the event each season.
“Karis demonstrated a ton of grit in the 5,000, leading the race from the beginning,” said TMC head coach Zach Schroeder. “… Finishing what has been a truly spectacular collegiate career with winning the 5,000 was a personal highlight in my coaching career.”
As a team, TMC tied for 18th out of 66 competing teams with 18 points.
Men’s track and field
Michael Sciarra represented The Master’s College men’s track & field program in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final where he finished 9:16.41 — good enough for second place. Sciarra’s NAIA All-American performance makes him the first athlete from TMC to receive all-American honors in the steeplechase.
“Michael’s performance was one of the best that I have seen from my athletes at the NAIA National Championships,” Schroeder said. “Not only did he run a lifetime best in tough conditions, but he was mere seconds off the school record.”
In the 5,000 final, Joshua Sherfey placed 16th after finishing the race in 15:59.77. Sherfey also competed in the men’s 10,000 final where he finished 18th overall at 34:38.47.
As a team, TMC tied for 37th out of 68 competing teams with eight points.
Golf
The Master’s College golf team’s Josh Delo tied for 36th overall after carding a collective score of 299 (78-74-72-75) in the final round of the 65th Annual Men’s Golf National Championships at TPC Deere Run Golf Club in Silvis, Ill.
Delo was TMC’s lone individual on Friday as the Mustangs failed to make the final 17-team field cut after finishing 22nd overall.
They scored a 919 (312-301-306) by the end of the third round Thursday afternoon.
“I feel bad for the team as they didn’t have their best week,” said TMC head coach Jason Semeslberger. “However, it was encouraging to see Josh play solidly. It was especially exciting to have the opportunity for the whole team to follow Josh in the final round as he played his way to a respectable (top-36) finish.”
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