GLIAC Indoor T&F Championships Underway
The University of Findlay track and field team hosted the first day of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, February 25 at the Malcolm Athletic Center in the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex. The meets final day of competition will wrap-up on Sunday, February 26.
Junior Tynelle Gumbs grabbed the gold in the women's weight throw with an impressive performance. Her longest throw of 21.45m (70'4.25") was an NCAA automatic qualifier for the National Championship meet and it also broke the school record of 69'11.50", which she set earlier this season. The GLIAC Champion currently ranks 3rd in Division II.
Junior Trevia Gumbs also medaled in the women's weight throw with a 3rd place finish. Her furthest distance measured 19.09m (62'7.50"), which meets the NCAA provisional mark. Gumbs currently ranks 7th in Division II competition.
Seniors Erica King (10th |17.70m) and Liz Streacker (12th | 16.92m) and junior Alex DeVincentis (16th | 16.34m) also met the NCAA provisional mark in the weight throw. King is currently ranked 8th in Division II, while Streacker sits 15th.
In the men's portion of the weight throw sophomore Austin Combs and senior Mitch Adkins were able to provo in the event. Combs claimed 7th with a distance of 19.80m (64'11.50") and Adkins finished 12th with a mark of 17.27m (56'7.75").
Junior Trey Everett leads the pack in the men's heptathlon after four events with 3,064 points. Everett placed 1st in the long jump (23'3") and high jump (6'10.25"), 3rd in the shot put and 4th in the 60 meter dash. His performances in the long jump and high jump met the NCAA provisional marks. Everett currently is 13th in the high jump in Division II after his clearance today.
Everett also competed in the open long jump competition in the meet and finished just outside the podium in 5th place with an NCAA provisional distance of 7.11m (23'03.75).
A pair of Oilers advanced to the finals of the 60 meter hurdles. On the women's side, junior Milani Glass won the prelims with a NCAA provisional mark of 8.56. For the men, freshman Lenell Shelby III booked his spot in the finals with a 6th place finish at 8.31.
Glass and Shelby III were also able to qualify for the 200 meter finals. Glass finished with a preliminary time of 25.50 and Shelby III clocked in at 22.72.
The 400 meter final will feature four Findlay athletes. Freshman Semoy Hemmings (7th | 58.22) and junior Laura Hernandez (8th | 58.58) grabbed the final two spots to advance to the women's final. In the men's preliminary race, two Oilers met the NCAA provisional mark. Sophomore George Effah claimed 2nd in 49.06 and junior Sergi Torres finished 6th with a time of 49.38 to advance to tomorrow's finals.
Through five events the Oiler women are in fourth place with 18 points and the Findlay men sit in sixth with six points.
The GLIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships will resume tomorrow, Sunday, February 26 with the men's heptathlon beginning at 9:00 a.m., field events set to start at 10:15 a.m. and the running events kicking off at 12:25 p.m.