Oilers Compete at GVSU Big Meet and Defiance College Open
The University of Findlay men's and women's indoor track and field teams competed at multiple locations on Friday, February 14th. One of the meets was the 2014 Big Meet hosted by Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan and the other was the Defiance Open hosted by Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. Both meets are two-day events and will conclude Saturday, February 15th.
It is no wonder where the name of the meet at GVSU comes from as it plays host to more than 2,400 athletes from 67 different schools spanning 12 states.
In the men's 800 Meter Dash, junior Dillon Webster shined again as he improved upon his own school record and again met the NCAA Automatic qualifying time in the event as he took fourth place with a time of 1:49.37.
Just a week ago, junior Jacob Hayes took senior Justin Eilerman's spot in the Findlay Record Book as he ran the fastest mile in Oiler history. Today, Eilerman took that distinction back as he ran a 4:11.97 which was good enough for 14th place and an NCAA Provisional bid.
Senior Marcus Vicars had a solid showing in the Men's Shot Put Elite as he met the NCAA Provisional mark with his throw that measured 55'07.00. This toss was good enough to earn the senior eighth place in the loaded field of competitors.
Freshman Ben Hahler was active in the Men's Shot Put Sub-Elite and took second place in the event. His throw of 51'10.50 was good enough to meet the NCAA Provisional mark.
In the Men's Long Jump Sub-Elite, freshman Derek Collins took third place with a jump that measured 21'04.25.
On the women's side, junior Kendra Averesch, competing in the Women's Shot Put Elite, did as she has done time and again this season as she, again, met the NCAA Automatic mark with a throw of 51'05.00, good enough to earn her third in the event.
Sophomore Maud Sanmiquel competed in the 60 Meter Hurdles and qualified for an NCAA Provisional spot with her time of 8.85 seconds. That time earned her 12th in the event. Also competing in the event was junior Pam Showman, who took 20th with a time of 9.00. Showman also competed in the Long Jump where she finished in eighth with a jump of 16'06.00.
Another NCAA Provisional mark was met in the women's 800 Meter Dash as sophomore Samantha Grippe took 14th with her time of 2:13.00.
Competing in the women's Long Jump Elite was freshman Lilia Malyarova, whose jump of 17'06.25 was good enough for sixth.
Day 2 of the Big Meet will begin tomorrow, February 15th at 11:00 am. Be sure to follow along as there will be live updates provided at the link below.
http://www.gvsulakers.com/livestats/c-track/index.htm
Meanwhile, 195 miles away, many other Oiler track and field athletes were competing at the Defiance Open.
In the women Weight Throw freshman Erica King took second place with her toss that measured 6.91m. Senior Anna Knapski took third in the even with a throw that traveled 16.08m. Both King and Knapski met NCAA Provisional marks with their throws. Freshman Alex DeVincentis' throw of 14.49m was good enough to earn her fourth place and freshman Liz Streacker took fifth with her throw of 14.31.
DeVincentis, Knapski, and Streaker were also active in the women's Shot Put. DeVincentis and Knapski took first and second with throws that measure 12.73m and 11.71m, respectively. Streacker came in fifth with a throw of 10.55.
The Oiler women swept the first three places in the Pole Vault and were led by freshman Torie Allgire, who claimed first place with a jump of 3.20m. Freshman Taylor Allen took second place with her jump of 3.05m and sophomore Victoria Burt nabbed third, also jumping 3.05m.
In the women's 60 Meter Dash, junior Taylor Ackerman took 2nd with her time of 8.05 while junior Briana McConnell's time of 8.73 earned her a fifth place finish.
Senior Brittany Carroll finished in third in the women's 60 Meter Hurdles with a time of 9.54 while freshman Aspen Rose took fifth with her time of 10.23.
Ackerman was also in the women's 200 Meter Dash and her time of 26.62 earned her a third place finish.
In the women's 4x400 Meter Relay the team of Ackerman, senior Emily Caudill, freshman Rachel Eaton, and Rose took second place with their time of 4:22.63.
Caudill's time of 1:01.71 earned her a fourth place finish in the women's 400 Meter Dash.
Senior Samantha Hassen took second place in the women's 1 Mile with her time of 5:36.74.
In the women's 3,000 Meter Run, sophomore Meredith Hoops earned fifth place as she finished with a time of 11:48.85
On the men's side, junior Jake Miller took first place in the 60 Meter Hurdles with his time of 8.98. Miller also competed in the Pole Vault and grabbed a second place finish with a jump of 4.00m.
In the men's 400 Meter Dash, sophomore Elliot Westerbeck finished in fourth place with his time of 53.83.
Senior Shane Stein grabbed himself a fourth place finish in the men's 800 Meter Dash with his time of 2:04.21.
In the men's Weight Throw, sophomore Parker Schroeder finished in third place with his toss that measured 15.04m.
The Oilers received a first place finish from Brian Jennings in the men's Shot Put. Jennings' throw measured 15.07m. Earning fourth place in the event was Schroeder whose toss reached a distance of 13.39m.
Day 2 of the Defiance Open will begin tomorrow, February 15th at noon.