By: Bryson Hartzler, sports information assistant

Results http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/trackandfield/2013/0329.pdf

The Bluffton University track and field program headed north to rival Defiance College to take part in the “Dick Small Invitational” on Friday afternoon. The Beavers competed against several nearby teams, including Defiance, Olivet, Adrian and the Bowling Green Track Club. Bluffton came away from the meet with several top finishers as well as qualifying marks for the HCAC and All Ohio championships.

The first victor on the day was Jeff Parker (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) in the men’s javelin. Parker won with a season-best throw of 170-3, His mark was over 30 feet ahead of the second place finisher. Parker ended the day with a total of four top finishes with others coming in the long jump (3rd), shot put (4th) and hammer (8th). Other first place finishers on the day came from the track where senior Maddie Moore (Linn Grove, Ind./South Adams) won the women’s 1500 with a time of 5:09.30, setting a new personal best while qualifying her for the All-Ohio Championship. Moore finished just ahead of teammate Alison Janzen (Whitewater, Kan./Remington) in the 1500. Janzen also ran a personal best on the day, 5:13.47, after coming off of a school-record performance in the 10k the previous weekend.

Moore also took a second place finish in the women’s 800, but it was teammate Nichole Peterman (Killbuck/West Holmes) who was victorious with a season-best time of 2:26.86. Peterman ran away from the field on her way to qualifying for the HCAC championships as well as the All-Ohio Championship. Fellow freshman Joel Schmidt (Berne, Ind./South Adams) did the same in the 400m hurdles, besting the field with a time of 59.01, a mark well under the conference and All-Ohio qualifying standards.

In the men’s 1500, freshman teammates Zachary Smith (Hilltop/West Unity) and Colin McCloskey (Sylvania/Northview) went head-to-head on their way to setting new personal bests in the event and qualifying for championships. McCloskey came in just behind Smith in 4th place with a time of 4:13.31. His time was a conference qualifier while Smith took 3rd with a personal-best time of 4:12.98, It qualified Smith for the HCAC as well as All-Ohio Championships. Finishing in third place in the women’s shot was freshman Marcea West-Estell (Toledo/Notre Dame) with a throw of 34-6.75. West-Estell’s mark was a new personal best on the season.

Other personal bests on the day would come from Hannah Krull (Lewisburg/Tri-County North) in the 400m and the men’s contingent in the hammer throw. Along with Parker, Edgar Gonzalez (Melvindale, Mich.) and Justin Yingst (Houston) also set new personal bests. Yingst followed his hammer performance with another PR in the shot put (40-9.5).

Head coach Karen Brandt was pleased with the effort her young team put forth, “It was quite nice for the athletes to finally enjoy warm, sunny weather, although it was a bit windy for the track events. I'm proud of the many good performances, including wins, qualifiers and best efforts, as we continue to develop toward bigger meets later in the season."

The Beavers will return from Easter break and head to Ohio Wesleyan on the March 6 to take part in the Marv Frye Invitational.