Findlay Dominates at ONU's Polar Bear Invitational
Ada, OH – The University of Findlay men's and women's track and field teams traveled the short distance to Ada to participate in the Polar Bear Invitational hosted by Ohio Northern University on Saturday, April 18. Findlay's women dominated the meet as they finished with 214.50 points, more than 70 points higher than the runner-up. The Oiler men also won the meet, taking first place with 172.5 points, 34 points better than the second place team.
Women
Oiler women dominated in the hammer throw and were led by sophomore Erica King who took first place with a throw that measured 184'09", good enough for a provisional in the event. Also earning provisionals were sophomore Liz Streacker (2nd, 173'03") and senior Kendra Averech (3rd, 173'00"). Senior Anna Knapski took fifth place in the event as she recorded a throw of 159'03".
Averesch also did well in the discus throw as she took second place with a throw of 142'06". Streacker followed suit as she too placed well, taking third place with a toss of 132'04". Freshman Morgan Turner earned points for the Oilers squad as her throw of 129'02" was good enough for fifth place while King rounded out the scoring with a seventh place toss of 124'02".
Senior Pam Showman took home first place in the 100 meter hurdles as her time of 14.25 was enough to earn a provisional in the event. Freshman Milani Glass also participated in the event and place third with her time of 14.66.
Junior Lydia Guagenti dominated the high jump competition as she took first place. She leaped to a height 5'09.75", the exact height needed to earn an automatic invitation to the NCAA National Championship meet and a new school record.
Junior Maud Sanmiquel took first place in the 400 meter hurdles as she ran to a time of 1:02.21. That time earned her a provisional in the event.
Guagenti and Showman participated in the javelin throw and took second (112'02") and third (110'04"), respectively.
Samiquel, freshman Laura Hernandez, Guagenti, and senior Shelby Stump combined to run in the 4x400 meter relay and took home first place as they finished in a time of 3:57.61. Also running in the event was senior Taylor Ackerman, junior Samantha Grippe, junior Erica Bettac, and freshman Claire Crum finished third with a time of 4:07.57.
Ackerman was also in the long jump as she distanced 17'08.00" and took third place. She also took third in the triple jump as she reached a measurement of 34'08.25". Glass also was in the triple jump and took fourth (34'06.25").
Junior Meredith Hoops was one of seven competitors in the 5k run and she took second place with a time of 19:42.02.
Findlay picked up a 1-2-3 sweep in the 1,500 meter run as junior Erica Bettac led the way with a first place finish (4:45.71), sophomore Melanie Ruich took second (4:54.30), and freshman Taylor Bolinger took third (5:02.71).
The team of Ackerman, Hernandez, freshman Brittany Archer, and Sanmiquel combined in the 4x100 meter relay and ran to a time of 48.93, earning them a second place finish.
Hernandez was busy in the 200 meter dash as well and finished with a time of 26.59, good enough for third place.
Ackerman also participated in the 100 meter dash and took second with her time of 12.66.
Junior Samantha Grippe finished in fourth place in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:13.63.
Sophomore Liz Streacker participated in the shot put and led the Oilers throwers with her toss of 40'00.50", good enough for fifth place.
Men
Senior Justin Welch won the hammer throw with an NCAA automatic qualifying distance of 225'01". Senior Taylor Miller also participated and did well as he earned a provisional distance of 196'10", earning him second place. Senior Brian Jennings heaved a throw that measured 174'07" and took sixth in the event.
Welch also won the discus throw as he brought home first place with a finish of 176'04", a provisional qualifier. Miller also earned a provisional in the event with his toss of 167'02", good enough for second place. Sophomore Ben Hahler (3rd, 157'10"), sophomore Mitch Adkins (5th, 151'04"), senior Mathieu Marcoccia (6th, 146'01"), junior Parker Schroeder (7th, 144'04"), and senior Brian Jennings (8th, 143'04) rounded out the scoring for the men in this event.
The Oiler men dominated in the shot put as they finished in second-sixth and eighth and ninth. Finishers are listed in order: Miller (61'01.50", NCAA automatic qualifier), sophomore Ben Hahler (57'10.50", provisional), Marcoccia (57'00.25", provisional), Welch (53'09.25", provisional), Jennings (52'09.25", provisional), Adkins (47'01.75"), and Schroeder (46'00.00").
Senior Dillon Webster led the way in the 800 meter run as he earned a provisional in the event with his tim of 1:52.15. He finished in first.
Webster combined with sophomore Maliik Briggs, freshman Sergi Torres, and sophomore Derek Collins to run in the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:17.01.
Torres earned an NCAA provisional in the 400 meter dash as he won with a time of 47.83. Teammate, Briggs finished close behind as his time of 48.48 earned him a second place finish.
Senior Jacob Hayes took first place in the 3,000 meter steeplechase as he beat the field by nine seconds, coming in with a time of 10:01.83. Sophomore Aaron Cingle also participated and took fifth with a time of 10:42.33.
Briggs, Torres, Collins, and senior Jacob Miller teamed up in the 4x100 meter relay and took second place with a time of 42.91. Miller also ran in the 100 meter dash and took fourth with a time of 11.13.
The Oilers will next be on the track on Thursday, April 23 for the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA.