NEW ORLEANS — Four Cal Lutheran track and field athletes – Obasi Dees, Timmy Kahovec, Alexa Barnes and Kendall Guidetti – earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) distinctions, announced Monday. 

The accolades are awarded to the top-five individuals in each event from each region, in addition to each of the members of the region's top-three relay teams.

Dees was honored in the 100 meter dash. He not only lifted the Kingsmen to five top-ten finishes at the Redlands Final Qualifying Meet, but his 10.75-second run is now the fifth best 100-meter time in program history. It also broke his previous lifetime personal record of 10.83 set previously this year. 

Kahovec earned the 800 meter distinction. His 1:56.33 finish at the SCIAC Championships earned him the bronze and all-conference honors. Three weeks prior, Kahovec finished fifth amongst 107 competitors with a time of 1:54.01 at the Pomona-Pitzer Invite. The run is the fourth best in program history and his second record-breaking performance as a Kingsmen. Kahovec recorded the second best time in school history last season of 1:52.25 at the 2017 SCIAC Track & Field Championships. 

Barnes led the group with two all-region distinctions in the discus and hammer throw, posting lifetime bests in both events at the Redlands Final Qualifying Meet. She threw for 39.68 meters in the discus, beating her previous best of 39.03 m set in 2016. Her performance also places her fifth in the program's all-time records, breaking her former top mark to maintain hold of the five spot. Barnes also entered the top five for the hammer throw with her 47.08 meter mark.

Rounding out the group, Guidetti was named all-region in the long jump. She took home four first-place finishes in the event this year, including the SCIAC Championship title with a season-best 5.67 m jump. The mark is fourth-best in program history, and just shy of the 5.75m jump Guidetti posted last year that holds first place. 

The four were all additionally named the All-SCIAC team earlier this season after their top-three performances at the conference championships.

USTFCCCA: All-Region Honorees
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Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director