Williamson improves on personal best by more than 200 points to become only second women’s individual national champion in program history; Mungro makes it three straight for Findlay in men’s weight throw, with Taylor capturing first crown in event for Minnesota State to open Division 2 meet at CrossPlex

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Saginaw Valley State sophomore Cheyenne Williamson became the first female athlete to surpass the 4,000-point mark in the pentathlon at the NCAA Division 2 Indoor Championships since 2017 and elevated to the No. 5 competitor in division history Thursday, winning her first career title with 4,113 points at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.

Williamson surpassed her previous-best mark achieved Jan. 29 by more than 200 points from the Jet’s Pizza Invitational to become the fourth female athlete to eclipse the 4,000-point barrier at the Division 2 national final.

Williamson, who won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.44 seconds, only trailed briefly following the high jump, but regained the advantage after the shot put and created breathing room against the rest of the field with her 19-10.75 (6.06m) long jump performance, before punctuating the victory with a 2:22.56 in the 800 meters.

Pittsburg State junior Trace Mosby finished well, clocking 2:19.19 in the 800 to place second overall with 3,966 points.

Williamson is only the second female athlete in program history to capture a Division 2 title in any event for the Cardinals, joining Sue Breternitz in the shot put in 1991.

Findlay senior Sterling Mungro won the men’s weight throw championship with a third-round effort of 73-8 (22.45m) to improve to the No. 5 all-time performer in Division 2 and secure the third title in a row for the Oilers, following Austin Combs in 2018 and 2019.

Mungro prevailed against Angelo State junior Decio Andrade, who produced a sixth-round mark of 71-5.25 (21.77m), and Northern State senior Tanner Berg at 71-1.50 (21.68m). Berg entered the championship meet as the No. 3 competitor in division history at 73-11.75 (22.55m).

It marked the fifth men’s weight throw title for Findlay in the past seven Division 2 finals.

Minnesota State senior Katie Taylor capped a strong series in the women’s weight throw with a sixth-round effort of 69-5.50 (21.17m) to ascend to the No. 9 all-time performer in Division 2 and secure the first female indoor championship in either throwing event in program history.

Taylor, who surpassed 20 meters for the first time in the fourth round, captured the first women’s indoor title for the Mavericks in any final since 2017.

Wayne State junior Mckenzie Scheil took second with an opening-round throw of 66-1.50 (20.15m). 

Pittsburg State junior Trey Mooney led the men’s heptathlon following the first day with 3,216 points. Mooney entered the final as the No. 15 competitor in Division 2 history with 5,528 points from his Feb. 5-6 performance at the Bearcat Open.