Oilers Host Northwest Ohio Invitational
The University of Findlay men's and women's track and field teams competed Friday, January 17 at the Northwest Ohio Invitational held in the Malcom Athletic Center in Findlay. A total of 15 schools were represented with approximately 500 student-athletes participating.
The Findlay men got a good performance from junior Demorrio Leggett in the triple jump. He achieved an NCAA provisional qualifying distance of 49-04.5, good enough to take first in the event. Leggett also competed in the long jump where he finished fifth with a jump measuring 21-03.25.
Oilers throwers saw success in the meet as three athletes met NCAA provisional marks. Freshman Ben Hahler led the way with his toss of 53-11.25, giving him third place in the event. Junior Justin Welch threw a distance of 51-11.25 and senior Marcus Vicals threw 51-05.00 which earned sixth and seventh place finishes, respectively. Welch also competed in the men's weight throw where he took first place with an NCAA provisional qualifying toss that measured 69-05.50.
In the long jump competition, freshman Alexander Zolotoglavyy took the crown with his jump of 22-7.25. Freshman Derek Collins took third in the event with is jump of 22-03.50. Collins also competed in the men's 4 x 400 meter relay as the anchor to the team that took third place with a time of 3:25.59. Others in the relay included freshman Maliik Briggs, junior Dillon Webster, who placed first in the men's 500 meter dash with a time of 1:03.19, and sophomore Kyle Smithey. Smithey also competed in the 300 meter dash where he finished second with a time of 37.01.
Sophomore Derek Spindler took fourth place in the men's pole vault with a jump 13-07.25.
Senior Justin Eilerman competed for the Oilers in the mile run. His time of 4:23.07 was good enough for sixth place.
The Oiler women were led by the one Findlay athlete who became an NCAA automatic qualifier at the meet, junior Kendra Averesch who took second in the event with a throw measuring 50-09.50. This throw is a personal best and an Oiler women's record. Averesch was not done there. The junior also competed in the weight throw where she threw an NCAA provisional toss of 55-05.50, good enough for third in the event. Also competing in the shot put was freshman Alex DeVincentis who threw 41-01.00, a toss that took fourth place in the event.
Other Oiler women competing in the weight throw were freshman Erica King and freshman Liz Streacker. King met an NCAA provisional mark with her throw of 54-06.00, good enough for fourth place. Streacker's toss of 51-03.00 landed her in fifth.
The Oiler women's 4 x 400 meter relay team took home first place with a time of 4:03.11. The team was comprised of freshman Adrianna Powell-Lawrence, freshman Kadesha Roberts, junior Shelby Stump, and junior Kirsten Gaerke. Findlay also achieved fifth place in this event as the team of senior Emily Caudill, sophomore Samantha Grippe, sophomore Taylor Ackerman, and sophomore Erica Bettac finished with a time of 4:13.92. Powell-Lawrence also competed in the 400 meter dash where she finished in second with a time of 59.43. Running in the 300 meter dash was Stump, who finished in third with a time of 42.36. Also competing in multiple events was Ackerman who took third in the 60 meter dash with a time of 8.09 and finished fourth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 26.87.
In the women's 500 meter dash, sophomore Maud Sanmiquel finished with a time of 1:18.13, good enough to earn her third in the event. She also competed in the 60 meter hurdles where her time of 8.96 earned her fourth.
Also running in both the 500 and 60 meter hurdles was junior Pam Showman. She finished in fifth in the 500 with a time of 1:20.28 and also took fifth in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.10.
Grippe, who also competed in the 4 x 400 meter relay, took second place in the women's 800 meter run with her time of 2:18.85.
In the mile run, Bettac, again, also active in the 4 x 400 meter relay, took third with her time of 5:22.56.
Sophomore Lydia Guagenti placed third in the women's high jump with her mark of 5-04.25.
The Oilers track teams will be back in action next Friday and Saturday, January 24th and 25th as they host the Findlay Classic in the Malcom Athletic Center.