Elite Throwers Compete at Findlay Open
The University of Findlay men's and women's track and field teams hosted the Findlay Open and Elite Throwing competition on Friday, January 31 in the Malcolm Athletic Center.
For the women, freshman Lilia Malyarova had a standout day as she won two events. In the triple jump, Malyarova led the field with her distance of 38'00.75, good enough for an NCAA Provisional mark. The freshman also took first in the long jump where she had a leap that measured 17'10.25. Also competing in the long jump was sophomore Taylor Ackerman, whose bound of 17'00.75 was good enough to land her in fourth.
Findlay also competed well in the 4x400 meter relay and had two teams in the top three. Taking first place in the event with a time of 3:57.81 was a team comprised of junior Shelby Stump, freshman Kadesha Roberts, freshman Adrianna Powell-Lawrence, and junior Kirsten Gaerke. The other team consisting of Ackerman, junior Pam Showman, senior Emily Caudill, and sophomore Erica Bettac, took third in the event with a time of 4:05.61.
Powell-Lawrence was also active in the 400 meter dash where her time of 58.00 gave her first place in the race. Also running in this event was Gaerke, who captured fifth place with a time of 1:00.54.
Bettac ran in the one mile run and took first place with her time of 5:20.25.
The Oilers received another first place finish, this time from Samantha Grippe. The sophomore, who ran in the 800 meter run, finished with an NCAA Provisional time of 2:15.33.
In the 3000 meter run, freshman Melanie Ruich competed well as her time of 10:38.91 was good enough to earn her second place in the event.
Finishing in third in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.04 was junior Pam Showman.
In other field event action, sophomore Lydia Guagenti took second for the Oilers. She competed in the high jump and leapt to a height of 5'04.25.
Also looking to clear the bar were sophomore Victoria Burt and freshman Torie Allgire, who both competed in the pole vault. Burt took third in the event with a jump of 10'08.00 and Allgire took fourth reaching a height of 10'02.00.
Highlighting the Findlay throwers was junior Kendra Averesch. She competed in the Women's Elite Shot Put and met the NCAA Automatic qualifying mark with her school record breaking toss 52'00.50. This throw landed her in fifth place in the field loaded with talent. Averesch also competed in the Elite Weight Throw and she met an NCAA Provisional mark with her throw of 56'07.25. Another Oiler in this event was Erica King who also met an NCAA Provisional mark with her toss of 54'04.75.
In women's shot put, freshman Alex DeVincentis took third place with a toss of 42'04.00.
Also collecting a third place finish was sophomore Anna Knapski who met an NCAA Provisional with her toss of 53'00.00 in the women's weight throw.
In men's action, the only NCAA Automatic mark was met in the Elite Weight Throw where junior Justin Welch took third place with a toss of 72'02.25. The throw tied his school record.
There were four Oiler men who met NCAA Provisional marks in the meet.
Freshman Alexander Zolotoglavy was one of the athletes who reached a provisional mark with his jump of 23'10.00 in the long jump. This leap was good enough for first place in the event. Also in the event was freshman Derek Collins who took second with a jump of 22'07.75. Zolotoglavy also competed in the Triple Jump where he finished second with a distance of 45'09.00.
Other Provisionals were met in Men's Shot Put where both senior Marcus Vicars and freshman Ben Hahler reached the qualifying mark. Vicars took second in the event with his toss of 55'00.75 and Hahler's toss of 53'09.75 was good enough for third. Hahler also competed in the Men's Weight Throw where he took fifth with a toss that measured 48'05.50. Also competing in this event was sophomore Parker Schroeder. His throw of 49'09.25 placed him in fourth.
The final NCAA Provisional was met by junior Dillon Webster who took first place in the 800 meter run with his time of 1:52.53.
Another first place finisher was junior Demario Leggett. He competed in the triple jump and leapt to a distance of 46'02.50.
In the Men's 200 Meter Dash, freshman Derek Collins took second with a time of 23.48.
Freshman Maliik Briggs competed in the Men's 400 Meter Dash. His time of 51.63 was good enough for second place in the event.
Sophomore Derek Spindler, who competed in the Pole Vault, gained himself a third place finish with a jump measuring 14'07.25.
The Oilers are back in action as they travel to Boston, Massachusetts for the Valentine Invitational. This event begins next Friday, February 7 and runs through Saturday the 8th.