March 29, 2024

Mackenzie Wahpepah-Harris (Kickapoo) Earns All-American Honors in 3K at NAIA Indoor Nationals

GENEVA, Ohio – Oklahoma City University had top finishes in the NAIA Indoor Championships Saturday at the SPIRE Institute.

The Stars’ Arya Bahreini, Peter Koskey, Michael Vercoe-Curtis, Mackenzie Wahpepah-Harris and Kyle Wardwell all raked in all-American awards with finishes in their respective races.

Koskey and Bahreini finished second and third respectively in the 5,000-meter run. Koskey, a junior from Keringet, Kenya, crossed the finish line at 13 minutes, 38.89 seconds, while Bahreini, a junior from Edmond, Okla., finished 13:48.40.

Wardwell, a junior from Norman, Okla., came in fifth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:32.55.

Vercoe-Curtis, a sophomore from Auckland, New Zealand took eighth in the mile run with a time of 4:17.01 in the finals, while Wahpepah-Harris (Kickapoo Tribe),  a sophomore from Norman, Okla., also finished eighth in the 3000 meters at 8:39.68.

OCU finished 13th in the team standings with 20 points.

“I am very excited to build off this success moving into the outdoor season,” OCU coach Conor Holt said.