Welch, Bruce Earn Honors at GLIAC Championship
The University of Findlay men and women's indoor track and field teams wrapped up the final day of the 2015 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) on March 1 in University Center, Mich. The men finished third with 102 points while the women took sixth with 52 points.
Individually, senior Justin Welch was named the GLIAC Field Athlete of the Year while Michael Bruce was tabbed the Freshman Field Athlete of the Year. Welch, who won the weight throw yesterday, was eighth in the shot put on Sunday with a provisional toss of 55'09.75. Bruce meanwhile won the triple jump on Sunday with a NCAA provisional mark and field house record leap of 50'02.75. He was the runner-up in the long jump yesterday.
The men's squad dominated the shot put competition on Sunday as they had five individuals reach NCAA provisional qualifying status. The group was led by senior Taylor Miller, who finished first with a provisional and field house record toss of 59'00.00. Senior Mathieu Marcoccia was second with a provisional mark of 57'09.75, sophomore Ben Hahler was third with a provisional heave of 57'06.50, Welch was eighth with a provisional mark of 55'09.75 and senior Brian Jennings took 11th with a provisional qualifying distance of 53'08.25.
Along with Bruce's top finish in the triple jump, sophomore Alexander Zolotoglavyy took runner-up honors with a provisional leap of 48'10.75 while senior Demorrio Leggett was sixth with a provisional mark of 47'07.00.
The Oilers 4x400-meter relay team had a good showing, finishing second with a provisional time of 3:12.32. Sophomores Sergi Torres, Maliik Briggs and Derek Collins teamed with senior Dillon Webster to establish a new school record in the event as well. Webster also took home the silver in the 800-meter run, crossing the finish line in a provisional time of 1:50.09.
Junior Derek Spindler was sixth in the pole vault while senior Jacob Hayes took seventh in the 1-mile run at 4:16.10.
On the women's side, senior Kendra Averesch finished second in the shot put with a NCAA automatic qualifying heave of 54'02.00 to lead the squad.
The Oilers 4x400-meter relay team of junior Maud Sanmiquel, senior Shelby Stump, senior Kirsten Gaerke and freshman Laura Hernandez took home the bronze after crossing the finish line in a provisional qualifying time of 3:49.46 while junior Erica Bettac reached provisional status in the 800-meter run by taking fifth with a time of 2:14.43.
Junior Lydia Guagenti was sixth in the high jump at 5'03.25, junior Samantha Grippe was sixth in the 800-meter run at 2:15.57 while senior Pam Showman placed eighth in the 60-meter hurdles after crossing the line in 8.92.
The Oilers will return to the track again on March 13-14 at the NCAA Division II National Championship in Birmingham, Ala.