The Waynesburg University men’s outdoor track and field team finished fourth in the 2024 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships, the best finish since taking third in 2014. 

“At the end of the day, this is a team sport,” senior captain Andrew Kasper said. “Anything I can do to help our guys move up is worth the extra push.” 

Day One 

It all kicked off Thursday night with Kasper taking home the gold in the 10,000 meters (31:53.59).  

“I felt like I really hit my stride during the race and all the work I put into this sport came together,” Kasper said. “The best part was my teammates and coaches lining the track and giving me the extra push to go for gold.” 

The posted time by Kasper was not just for first in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships, but to break the program record he set earlier this season at Slippery Rock University (32:31.84) by 37.92 seconds. 

“I know we’ve all poured a lot into our season,” Kasper said. “Our performance reflects the relent, grit and resilience we’ve developed.” 

For Kasper, this was his final collegiate meet, and he shared a message for his teammates and coaches: 

“To coach [Chris] Hardie, and every coach that has helped me along the way, I am so grateful for the time and dedication to my success,” Kasper said. “To all my teammates; thank you for cheering me on, being the reason, I keep going with this sport, and helping me push to the next level.” 

Day Two 

Sophomore Ty Williams added another medal to the Waynesburg meet total at the start earning a bronze in the men’s 110-meter hurdles (15.47 seconds). 

“I just trust God’s plan that he has for me, and it just reminds me that every day is a gift,” Williams said. “Every day is a blessing; he blesses us with gifts and talents to pursue whatever he has planned for us.” 

Williams now has his name next to eight of the 10 fastest times in program history for the 110-meter hurdles. Williams has every spot except for sixth and ninth (Matthew Shinkle). 

Senior Kai Herbert was someone that Williams leaned on this season. The two ended the season running right next to each other in lanes two and three for the 110-meter hurdle finals. 

“I just want to say thank you,” Williams said. “I love him to death; he pushed me beyond my limits… He’s the man.” 

Waynesburg added a second first-place finish, in the 100-meter dash Isaiah Mathews posted a career-best and school record time (10.75 seconds) to earn a gold medal. 

“This season came with so many ups and downs being injured,” Mathews said. “I’m not going to give myself the honor, I could not have done it without God.” 

Mathews took home two medals for the Yellow Jackets: a gold for the 100-meter dash and a silver medal in the 200-meter dash (21.72). In both events, Mathews posted personal and program bests. 

“I did not expect this to happen today running close times for the previous meets,” Mathews said. “But coming out like this it’s just God’s glory, it really is.” 

Graduate student Quintin Weaver captured a silver medal in the men’s 800-meter and another program record, with a time of 1:54.00.  

On top of the bronze medal earned by Williams, sophomore John Stewart took home one for the discus throw (42.05 meters) and Herbert tied for third in the men’s high jump (1.83 meters). 

What’s Next? 

The conference competition is over for the 2024 outdoor season, but athletes will now hope to qualify for nationals. The first of three last chance meets is Sat. May 4, at West Virginia University.