TUCSON, Arizona- The Desert Heat Classic honored the seniors of track and field before the running events began. Each senior has proudly represented the Wildcat name with outstanding academic careers and achievements.
In her career as a wildcat, megan borders posted a 6k PR of 22:45.9 during the UC Riverside Invitational. She ran a 23:55.1 in the 6K David Murray Invitational to secure team victory for the women’s team. Bounds was nominated for Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year and has received USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Honors. Bounds is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Health and plans to apply to medical school after he graduates.
Jaisen Brown threw a new PR at the Desert Heat Classic with a new best of 60.92 m (199’10”) and placed fourth on his final day. In the shot put at the 2019 Jim Click Shootout with a throw of 14.95 m (49th place). ‘0.75″). Brown will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business and hopes to join the Space Force after school
Jacob Chamberlin threw two personal bests in his senior season with a discus throw of 56.17 m (184’3″) and 64.34 m (211’1″) in the hammer throw. During the indoor season, he broke his weight throw PR with a mark of 64’6.5″ (19.67 m). After being the GNAC Discus Champion at Concordia University before moving to Arizona, Chamberlin finished at Senior Day Desert Heat finishes third in hammer throw A dual major in English and history, Chamberlin plans to pursue the Pacific Northwest Fire Department after school.
Maddy Christopher was the women’s top finisher at the 2021 Pac-12 Cross Country Championships. The long-distance runner set four personal bests in her last season as a wildcat, including the 800m (2:14.84), 1500m (4:29.26), mile (4:52.69) and 3000m (9:54,69). At the Desert Heat Classic, she placed in the top eight in the 1500 meter dash. Christopher will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and plans to pursue her Masters at USC.
Shem Kemboi posted two PR marks in the 3000m and the mile in his senior season as a wildcat during the outdoor season with respective times of 8:34.98 and 4:29.24. Kemboi placed in the top 12 in the 1500m at the Desert Heat Classic. Kemboi graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public health and plans to apply to graduate school after graduation
Timothey Kibet brought experience and consistency to the Arizona long-distance roster in his final season as a wildcat. In his senior year, he won two new PRs, with an 800m time of 1:51.90 at the ASU Invitational and a 1500m time of 3:55.23 at the Jim Click Shootout. Kibet finished seventh in the 1500m on his last day at the Desert Heat Classic. Kibet is doing his bachelor’s degree in political science and plans to go to graduate school after graduation.
Lilian Lowe was a 2021 Outdoor Second-Team All-American and 2019 Indoor First-Team All-American, qualifying in the high jump for the 2021 US Olympic Trials. The senior jumper won the high jump competition at the 2019 MPSF Indoor Track & Field Championships. Her best high jump mark was 1.87m (6′-1.5″) at the Desert Heat Classic in 2021. Lowe has proven herself at every competition she has attended competed as a wildcat during her senior season, placed in the top three and won the Jim Click Shootout Roy P. Drachman Lowe has a master’s degree in real estate development and plans to relocate to Florida to work in commercial real estate.
Shannon Meisberger is the holder of several school records, including the 600m she broke this season with a time of 1:28.19 and the 600-year dash with a time of 1:19.60. She is also in the 4x400m relay, which holds the current record of 3:30.67. Meisberger also finishes with the seventh fastest 400m time of 52.61 and fourth fastest 400m hurdles time of 55.70. The hurdler was a 2021 NCAA runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles and a 2021 First-Team All-American and 2019 Outdoor All-American (400-meter hurdle, 4 x 400 m). She also qualified for the semifinals of the 2021 Olympic Trials. On her final day at the Desert Heat Classic, she claimed her eighth event win of the season with a first-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles. After completing her Masters in Classical Archeology, Meisberger wants to do a PhD and continue her career.
Samantha Noning is the school record-holder in the indoor shot put with a college-best throw of 59′-10.5″ (18.25 m). She has the fourth-best outdoor shot put in the Arizona history 6th best discus at 180′-9″ (55.09m). Noennig enjoyed tremendous success during her collegiate track days, becoming the 2021 and 2019 Pac-12 Shot Put Champion, 2019 NCAA Indoor Champion and Outdoor Shot Put and the 2019 MPSF Shot Put Champion. She is a six-time All-American and was named to the 2020 Cosida First-Team All-Academic. She is another wildcat who competed in the shot put Olympic Trials and the Finals She finished second in the shot put and fourth in the discus throw at the Desert Heat Classics to round out her senior day.
Tiana Poirier Shelton is a senior jumper for the Wildcats who has the ninth best long jump in school history with a jump of 6.07 m (19’11”). Poirier-Shelton also owns the seventh best triple jump with 12.20 m (40’0, 5″) . At the Desert Heat Classic, the jumper finished in the top 15 in the women’s long jump. She graduated with a Masters in Public Health.
Kaelyn Shpiley ended her career in Arizona with the school record in the new javelin (since 1999) with a throw of 51.02 m. She graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Technical Management and plans to work on a coffee farm in Hawaii after graduating.
Trento Stimac has an Arizona best in the 100m with a time of 10.51. He competed as a member of the 4×100 relay team that placed third at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 40.10. He graduates with a Bachelors in Wildlife Conservation and Management and after college Stimac will move to California and work for one of the conservation centers there.
Trevor Volpe was an integral part of the Pac-12 championship 4x100m relay team that finished second in 2019 and third in 2021. In the 60m, his fastest mark was 6.86, along with top marks of 10.51 in the 100m and 20.91 in the 200m. Volpe is currently pursuing his Masters in Business Analytics and MBA.
A school record holder in the 4 x 400m relay, finishing the first stage in 3:03.58. At 45.76, he holds the fifth-fastest 400-meter time in school history. Williams was a 2019 and 2021 Outdoor All-American in the 4x400m relay and the 2018 Pac-12 4x400m champion. At the Desert Heat Classics on his senior day, he placed seventh in the 400-meter dash and third in the 4×400-meter relay. After graduating with a Bachelor of General Studies from Science Technology Health Society, Williams will continue his sprint career as a member of the national team of Team Philippines.
Calvin Wilson is also a school record holder with Maj Williams in the 4 x 400m relay, where he teamed the second leg in 3:03.58. Wilson posted the ninth fastest time in school history in the 400-meter hurdle with a time of 51.24. At 46.33, his PR over 400 m is just outside the top 10 in school history. During his career, he was a 2021 Outdoor All-American in the 4x400m relay and ran a stage in the 4×400 relay, finishing second at the Pac-12 Championships that same year. At the Desert Heat Classic, he placed sixth in the 400m hurdles and was part of the third-placed 4x400m relay team. He graduated with a Bachelors in General Studies with a concentration in Sport and Society and plans to complete his Masters degree.
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