Oilers Finish Up GLIAC Championships
On Friday, May 6th, The University of Findlay track and field teams competed on the final day of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Ferris State University.
The University of Findlay was able to crown some GLIAC Champions and several other athletes were able to compete well enough to collect points for their teams. The women finished in 3rd place with 108 points, and the men finished in 6th place with 49 points.
Women
Senior Maud Sanmiquel won the 400 meter hurdles and met the NCAA provisional mark with a time of 59.08. This time currently ranks Sanmiquel 2nd in the nation and also sets a new school record. The previous record was owned by Sanmiquel set in 2015 with a time of 59.82.
Sanmiquel also competed in the 100 meter hurdles. In the 100 meter hurdles, she captured 2nd place and met the NCAA provisional mark after finishing the race in 13.80 seconds.
Senior Samantha Grippe finished just .08 seconds behind the leader in the 800 meter dash to bring home 2nd place. Her time of 2:11.39 met the NCAA provisional mark.
The 4x100 meter relay team featuring sophomore Milani Glass, Sanmiquel, freshman Symphony Cooke, and freshman Madison Stechshulte claimed 4th with a time of 47.21.
The 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Stechshulte, Glass, Grippe, and sophomore Laura Hernandez earned 2nd and met the NCAA provisional mark after completing the event in 3:47.20.
Stechshulte also competed in the 100 and 200 meter dash. In the 100, she collected 7th with a time of 12.23 and in the 200 she took 5th with a time of 25.25.
In the 5000 meter run, junior Melanie Ruich had a strong showing that was good enough to place 5th with a time of 18:08.74.
Women Field
Senior Lydia Guagenti continued to excel in her last go around at the GLIAC Championships, as she won the high jump and met the NCAA provisional mark after clearing a height of 5'7.75".
Guagenti put together a phenomenal weekend performance that earned her the field athlete of the meet and the high point athlete of the meet.
Sophomore Alex DeVincentis won the discus throw with a NCAA National Championship automatic qualifying throw of 166'11". The throw currently ranks her 4th in the nation and also is a new school record. The previous record was held by DeVincentis, which she set in 2014 with a mark of 161'08". Freshman Holly Averesch and junior Liz Streacker also collected points for Findlay in the event. Averesch earned 7th with a heave of 145'05" and Streacker claimed 8th with a distance of 141'11".
Men
Sophomores Sergi Torres and George Effah competed in the 400 meter dash. Torres earned 4th and met the NCAA provisional at the 47.84 mark and Effah finished 7th with a time of 48.48.
The 4x400 meter relay team composed of Torres, junior Derek Collins, freshman Zach Jellison, and Effah claimed 4th place after crossing the finish line in 3:14.44.
Men Field
Senior Michael Bruce won the triple jump and met the NCAA provisional after covering a distance of 51'4.25". Bruce's performance in the triple jump, along with his 3rd place finish in the long jump yesterday, earned him the field athlete of the meet. Junior Trey Everett also competed in the triple jump and placed 7th with a leap of 45'5.75".
In the discus throw, junior Ben Hahler found himself on the podium with a 3rd place finish. His throw of 171'03" met the NCAA provisional and currently places him 13th in the country.
The Oilers return to the track on Wednesday, May 11th for the Aquinas Twilight Invitational at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich. The meet is scheduled to begin at 3pm.