By Bryson Hartzler

The Bluffton University men's and women's track and field teams traveled to the campus of Ohio Northern this weekend to compete in the Joe Banks Invitational. Among the competing teams were conference opponents Defiance and the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.

With the Heartland Conference championships just two weeks away, the Beavers are continuing to improve throughout the season with an abundance of personal bests.

The morning session was highlighted again by a strong performance from Kendall Weber (Wauseon) in the 60m hurdles and the long jump. Weber got off to a fast start in the hurdles, finishing her prelim in 9.65, just off her school record, and advancing to the finals where she finished 4th.

Weber wasted little time, breaking the school record in the long jump on her first attempt. She took down the previous school record by three inches, setting the new standard of 16-6. Weber not sits at third best in the conference for the 60m hurdles and fifth in the long jump.

The women’s DMR of Maddie Moore (Linn Grove, Ind./South Adams), Kayla Mullenhour (Delphos/Jefferson), Nichole Peterman (Killbuck/West Holmes) and Alison Janzen (Whitewater, Kan./Remington) improved their season-best time down to 13:24.53 which is the second-fastest time in the conference.

Other personal bests from across the track included Dante Dalton (Ecorse, Mich./Riverview Community) in the 60m and the 200m. Dalton finished just behind teammate Calib Alexander (Ocala, Fla./St. John Lutheran) in the 60, posting times of 7.30 and 7.32, respectively.

Colin McCloskey (Sylvania/Northview) improved his time in the 800m with a 2:01.7, while the senior tandem of Alison Janzen and Chris Arnold (Fort Wayne, Ind./Canterbury) set personal bests in the 1000m.

Josh Cunningham (Poquoson, Va.) also improved on his personal best from a week ago in the mile while Ryan Schadewald (Lima/Bath) and Adrian Ramirez (Archbold) both set new personal bests in the 3k.

The field events were highlighted by another strong performance from the throwers. In the weight throw, Julie Court (Galion) and Marcea West Estell (Toledo/Notre Dame Academy) set huge personal bests and finished in 3rd and 7th place, respectively, while teammate Ashley Gruden (Livonia, Mich./Ben Franklin) took 6th. Court’s performance now sits as the 8th best throw in the conference.

Chase Walters (Convoy/Crestview) had a 7-foot PR to lead Bluffton with a throw of 47-5.75, finishing in 8th place. His throw now sits as the 9th best throw in the conference.

Teammates Justin Yingst (Houston) and Alex Parker (Alger/Upper Scioto Valley) both also set new personal bests in the weight throw. The women’s throwing trio came back to set three personal bests in the shot put as well.

Head coach Karen Brandt was again happy with the overall performance of her young team with the conference meet just two weeks away. “I was really pleased with quality and quantity of performances today across a wide variety of events. I can’t underscore enough what a young team we are an therefore the breadth and depth of adjustment that goes with college level training. These young athletes are breaking school records that in some cases have stood for nearly a decade. They are learning new events and begging to master them. They are taking their place among the list of better athletes in the conference. It is a pleasure to see them work hard and take joy in their success."

The Beavers will compete in the All-Ohio championships at Otterbein next weekend before traveling to Defiance College for the Heartland Conference championships on February 16.