Men Take to the Track on Day 2 of Valentine Invitational
The Findlay Oiler men took the track on day 2 of the Valentine Invitational held at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. The meet is one of the biggest collegiate indoor meets in the country in which most of the events have more than one hundred competitors.
In long jump, freshman Alexander Zolotoglavyy won the event, consisting of 69 competitors, with his jump that measured 24'04.50. This mark is good enough to meet the NCAA Provisional mark and also sets a new Findlay record, surpassing Andre' Eley, whose mark of 24'3.75 has stood since 1996. Also competing in the event were junior Demorrio Leggett and freshman Derek Collins. Leggett jumped to a length of 22'9.25, good enough for seventh, and Collins jumped 21'08.25, good enough for 12th.
Also taking first place was junior Justin Welch. His throw of 69'02.75 met an NCAA Provisional in the men's weight throw. Another Oiler competing in this event was sophomore Parker Schroeder who took 16th with a throw of 49'01.75.
In the men's shot put, senior Marcus Vicars took fourth place with his NCAA Provisional qualifying throw of 54'08.25. Earning fifth place in the event was freshman Ben Hahler, who also met the NCAA Provisional mark with his throw of 54'04.00. Welch took 12th in the event with his toss of 49'05.75 while Schroeder earned 32nd with a throw of 43'09.25.
Leggett also competed in the triple jump and did well, taking home third place with a jump that measured 48'06.00. This distance meets the NCAA Provisional qualifying mark.
Junior Dillon Webster met an NCAA Automatic qualifying time in the 800 meter dash with a time of 1:51.18. That time was good enough for 15th in the event.
In the mile, junior Jacob Hayes took 63rd with a time of 4:13.06. Close behind was senior Justin Eilerman who finished with a time of 4:13.73, good enough to earn him 68th. Hayes' time broke the school record for the mile, formerly held by Eilerman, who set the mark in 2012. Both times are good enough to meet the NCAA Provisional mark.
Sophomore Kyle Smithey took 32nd in the men's 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.77.
Smithey also ran in the 400 meter dash and placed 115th with a time of 51.58. Also in the 400 was freshman Maliik Briggs who had a time of 52.16.
In the 4x400 relay, Findlay's team, comprised of Collins, Briggs, Webster, and Smithey, finished in ninth place of over 50 teams with a time of 3:18.51. This time is an NCAA Provisional qualifying time.
The Oilers will compete next week, February 14th, at the Defiance Open in Defiance, Ohio and February 15th at the Grand Valley State Big Meet in Allendale, Michigan.