Oilers Open Indoor Season With a Bang
The University of Findlay men's and women's track and field teams got their 2018-19 season started on Dec. 8 at the annual Oiler Opener.
Men
Junior Martin Etsey claimed first place in the men's triple jump after earning an automatic qualifying mark of (15.66m) (51-04.50). Etsey holds the longest jump in Malcom Athletic Center history, and is now the national leader in men's triple jump.
The Oiler men claimed the top three finishes in the men's 60 meter hurdles. Junior Lenell Shelby III earned first place with a provisional qualifying time on 8.20. Freshman Josh Steinbrunner took second place by running a 8.39, while sophomore Seth Saylor ran a 8.62 to take third.
The Findlay men also took the top three spots in the men's 400 meter dash. Freshman Xavier Marable ran a 49.90 to take earn place, while junior Kurt Grieger ran a 50.93 and freshman Lane Kolb ran a 51.54 to take second and third place respectively.
Freshman Justin Dreyling claimed first place in the men's long jump with a provisional qualifying distance of 7.21m (23-08.00).
In the men's 200 meter dash, senior Jaye Williams ran a 23.14 to take first place.
In the men's pole vault, sophomore Gabe Makin earned first place with a provisional qualifying vault of 4.73m (15-06.25).
The men's 4x400 meter relay team also ran a provisional qualifying time of 3:19.59. Senior George Effah, Grieger, Shelby, and Marable took first place in the event.
Two Oilers had provisional qualifying marks in the men's weight throw. Senior Austin Combs threw for 20.30m (66-07.25) to earn fourth place, while senior Dequan Lovell threw for 19.05m (62-06.00) to take eighth.
Dreyling ran a 7.33 in the men's 60 meter dash to earn second place.
Effah also competed in the GVSU Holiday Open yesterday, and took first place in the men's 400 meter dash to earn a provisional qualifying time of 48.22.
Women
The Findlay women took first place in the 4x400 meter relay. Junior Jenna Shipman, freshman Mikaely Pean, freshman Hayley Robinett, and junior Semoy Hemmings ran a time of 4:05.03.
In the women's 400 meter dash, Hemmings earned first place with a provisional qualifying time of 57.26.
Shipman took first in the women's long jump, by jumping for 5.39m (17-08.25).
In the women's 200 meter dash, Pean ran a 26.90 to earn second place.
Senior Hannah Hahler earned fourth pace in the women's shot put with a provisional qualifying throw of 13.65m (44-09.50).