April 8, 2017
DELAWARE, Ohio - The Bluffton University men’s and women’s track and field teams made their annual trek to Ohio Wesleyan to take part in the Marv Frye Invitational on Saturday, April 8, 2017. While the Beavers claimed no individual event wins the meet saw so many quality performances it was a banner day nonetheless.
After struggling to find her form in hammer during Friday’s portion of the competition junior D’Nae Reese (Columbus/Upper Arlington) captured runner-up honors in the discus with a throw of 135-2 in the field of 18 competitors. Placing a solid 3rd among the 26 men who contested the 400 meters was sophomore Quincy Salcido (Van Wert) with a PR 49.99 clocking. Salcido went on to drop his 200 meter time to 22.69. Both times are HCAC and All-Ohio qualifiers Finishing 4th in the large 100 meter field of 33 was freshman Stanley Williams (Sterling Heights, Mich./Chippewa Valley) who clocked a wind-legal PR 11.06 to qualify for both championships.
Also securing a 4th place finish in the field of 39 was senior Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul) in the 1500 meters where he improved his championship-qualifying time to 4:03.17. He later ran a season-best 1:59.44 effort in the 800 meters. Finishing 5th and 6th in the women’s pole vault were sophomore Sarah Oliver (Lexington) and Willow Thompson (Arlington) both of whom cleared 10-8, the clearance being a PR for Oliver.
The final Beavers to snag podium-finish positions were sophomore Keturah Warlick (East Point, Mich./Clintondale) and junior Erick Benge (Monrovia, Ind./Monrovia). After running a PR at 100 meters, Warlick was 7th among 35 over 200 meters at 27.25 while Benge placed 7th among 24 in the javelin with a toss of 145-5.25. During Friday’s hammer competition, Benge threw a PR 150-1.75.
Hard work and consistency in training paid off for a number of other athletes as well. In addition to Williams and Warlick, every other Beaver who contested the 100 meters ran a PR: Freshmen Ciana Hostetler (Sugarcreek/Garaway), Brittany Breier (Archbold/Stryker) and Ricardo Florestal (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) as well as senior Cam Walker (Palmetto, Ga./Newnan).
In the middle distance events, freshmen Alexis Cash (Gaines, MI/Lake Fenton) and Arie Cox (Ontario), sophomore Michelle Kelsey (South Whitley, Ind./Whitko) and senior Shawn Campo (Galion) all improved at 800 meters. Cash, Cox and Kelsey had earlier dropped their times in the 1,500 meter race as had freshman Bradley Hardesty (Martinsburg/Utica). Jennie Matteson (Guysville/Alexander) qualified for the 5000 meters at the All-Ohio Championships.
“Really proud of the team,” said Head Coach Karen Brandt. “After the cold and gloom of last week, today’s sunshine and mild temperatures had everyone loose, relaxed and ready to bring it. I am really happy with the results Coach Krout is providing with the sprinters. To see PR’s across so many events shows me all of our coaches are giving the athletes the right work. It is a credit to them to have earned the respect of the athletes who take that work and turn it into success. With only six meets before the HCAC Championships, our outdoor season goes down fast. It’s really nice to see the progress we make.”
The Beavers return to OWU on Saturday, April 15, to compete in the All-Ohio Championships.
-BEAVERS-
