Oilers Host Day 1 of Findlay Alumni Classic
Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay men's and women's track and field teams, both ranked in the top-25 in the country, participated on the first day of the Findlay Alumni Classic in the Malcolm Athletic Center on the campus of the University of Findlay on Friday, Jan. 28. The Oilers had multiple strong performances to get the meet started with a full day of competition coming tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 29.
Men
The Oilers men, ranked 11th in Division II in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll, were paced by an impressive performance in the second heat of the 5,000m run as three athletes broke the previous school record in the event and two earned NCAA provisional qualifying times. Junior Nick DeHaven led the way, completing the race in 14:37.00, the program's new record in the event and the second-fastest time in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) this season. Just a second behind was freshman standout Noah Fisher, the previous owner of Findlay's 5k record. Fisher clocked a time of 14:38.23 to take second, also earning an NCAA provisional qualifying time. Taking third in the race was freshman Jordan Foster who just missed the provisional mark, completing the race in 14:40.83, a personal-best. All three athletes bested the old school record, a 14:51.33 which was set last February by Noah Fisher.
Sophomore Eliot Cummings was the top finisher in the men's long jump as he out-distanced the field with a jump that measured 7.04m (23'01.25") to claim top spot.
In the open weight throw, Findlay's Orry Willems was the Oilers' top finisher as he took third with a toss that measured 16.59m (54'05.25"). Freshman Colin Warner's throw of 16.23m (53'03.00") was good for fourth.
Sophomore Jacob Michael was the Oilers' top finisher in the pole vault as he cleared a height of 4.78m (15'08.25"). That effort gave him an NCAA provisional mark and was a career-best.
Women
Leading the 17th-ranked women's program in the country was Findlay's pole vault squad, which boasts three of the top six marks in the country this season. Sophomore Lindsey Kluesener tied with Savannah Amato, who competed unattached, with a height of 4.07m (13'04.25"). Taking third was junior Meadow Cromer who cleared a height of 3.92m (12'10.25") and right behind her was sophomore Morgan England, Findlay's school-record holder, who recorded a height of 3.77m (12'04.50"). Each of those heights meets the NCAA provisional mark in the event.
Continuing what has been an outstanding season was sophomore Simone Green who came up three inches shy of the program record in the long jump. Green, who owns the G-MAC's top marks in both the long jump and triple jump, did, however, meet the NCAA provisional mark with a distance of 5.83m (19'01.50"). That mark ranks seventh all-time in G-MAC history. Close behind was freshman Madison Myers who reached 5.56m (18'03.00) while sophomore Carlee Siefker took third with a 5.46m (17'11.00") effort.
Rounding out the first day of competition was the elite weight throw. For the Oilers, it was sophomore Paige Emnett who was the top finisher, earning a fourth-place finish against some of the top throwers in the state. Emnett met the NCAA DII provisional by recording a throw of 17.76m (58'03.25"), a personal-best and the fifth-best performance in the G-MAC this season.