Orange and Black Take on Day One of Conference Championships
Tiffin, Ohio - The University of Findlay men's and women's track and field team competed in day one of the Great Midwest Athletic Championships (G-MAC) on Friday, February 28. After one day of action, the women's team stands in second place with 45 team points, while the men's team is currently in fourth place with 19 points overall.
Women
As they have all year long, the Oilers dominated the pole vault. Freshman Lindsey Kluesener claimed the gold as she launched herself in the air as high as 3.81m (12-6.00) to reach the provisional mark in the event.. Fellow freshman Morgan England took the silver in the event as she reached the height of 3.66m (12-0), which was also good enough to reach the provisional mark. Sophomore Meadow Cromer tied for third place in the event as well after posting a mark of 3.51m (11-6.25).
Freshman Simone Green claimed third place in the long jump 5.60m (18-4.50) while senior Hannah Hahler took the bronze medal in the weight throw a throw of 17.02m (55-10.00).
The women's 4000m DMR team consisting of sophomore Hayley Robinett, freshman Adriana Jutte, senior Aubreah Manns, and freshman Meghan Donoher took the bronze medal with a time of 12:44.72.
Freshman Bethany Smith had the fastest time in the prelims in the 400 meter dash, coming in at a time of 58.63 seconds. Manns clocked in at 59.71 seconds, which is the fifth fastest qualifying time. Both ladies will compete in the finals tomorrow.
Men
The orange and black did well in the weight throwing event as Senior Javian Martin took the bronze medal with a long throw of 18.28m (59-11.00), which earns him the provisional mark in the event. Sophomore Max Prunger placed fifth overall with a throw of 17.23m (56-6.00) as well.
In the heptathlon events, sophomore Keandre Marlow stands at third place overall with 2,636 points after four events have been finished. Marlow's best event was the high jump, as he finished with the highest mark at 1.96m (6-5.00). He finished in a tie for second place in the 60 meter hurdles with a finishing time of 7.28 seconds, which was just a tenth of a second back from first place. In the shot put, Marlow earned himself a fourth place finish with a long throw of 10.71m (35-1.75). And in the long jump Marlow finished eighth with a long jump of 5.86m (19-2.75).
The men's 4000m DMR team consisting of freshman Ethan Adams, senior Gavin Stepansky, freshman Tristin Freistuhler, and junior Jack Adams finished in fifth place, coming in at 10:53.87.
In the 400 meter dash prelims, sophomore Xavier Marable had the fastest qualifying time as he crossed the finish line at 49.21 seconds. Marable also had the fastest qualifying time in the 200 meter dash as he finished with a time of 21.95 seconds. Freshman Josh Verhoff finished with the second fastest qualifying time at 22.38 seconds. The finals in the event will take place tomorrow.
In the 60 meter dash, the Oilers had two qualifiers in Verhoff who finished in 6.98 seconds, which was the sixth fastest qualifying time, and freshman Michael Nichols had the final qualifying time at 7.02 seconds. They will both compete in the finals tomorrow.
Sophomore Josh Steinbrunner eked out a qualifying time in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.40 seconds, as he was the eighth fastest time in the event. He will compete in the finals tomorrow.
The Oilers will wrap up competition tomorrow.