March 28, 2015

Results

HANOVER, Ind. - With the cancellation of the Dick Small Invitational at Defiance College due to sub-freezing temperatures, the Bluffton University Beavers traveled to Panther Country to compete in the Hanover College Track & Field Invitational on Saturday, March 28.

In bright sunshine and temperatures that rose into the mid-forties, the Beavers saw a number of personal-best performances and championship qualifiers highlighted by Trey Everett's (Archbold) school-record clearance in the high jump. After finding frustration along with the other competitors on the long jump runway, Everett took to the high jump apron to break the record that has stood since 1997, clearing 6' 9.75" to win the competition. Also winning his event with a result that clearly outdistanced the competition was Jeff Parker (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) who set the javelin assail for 185' 8".

Posting qualifiers for the HCAC conference championship and/or the All-Ohio championship along with Everett and Parker were: Blake Drewes (Archbold) high jump; Edgar Gonzalez (Melvindale, Mich./Melvindale) and Chase Walters (Convoy/Crestview) hammer; D'Nae Reese (Columbus/Upper Arlington) both hammer and discus; Joel Jacobson (Franklin/Carlisle) 100 meters; Sarah Hunter (Mt. Blanchard/Riverdale) 400 meters; Kyle Knezovich (Utica) both 110 and 400 meter hurdles; and both Anna Hairston (Mansfield/Ontario) and Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul) at 1500 meters. 

Best performances were accomplished throughout the team. In the field, Reese's distances were both PR's as were those of fellow thrower Torrie Ruffin (Reynoldsburg/Mifflin) in the discus and hammer. Di'Vaunta Spearman (Sandusky/Willard) achieved the PR double in shot and hammer.  Joining him in hammer accolades were Edgar Gonzalez, Aron Gibson (Caledonia/River Valley), and newcomer to the event, Erick Benge (Monrovia, Ind./Monrovia). Benge debuted with a solid effort in the javelin as well.

Despite a flipped ankle in an earlier event, Alex Parker (Alger/Upper Scioto Valley) did his best to date in the discus. On the track, Chris Brenner (Defiance) continued his improvement in the 400 hurdles. Having raced at 5k and 10k last weekend, the distance runners worked on their speed over 800 and 1500 meters. Posting best times over both distances were Alissa Hauke (Hillsboro), Raven Wilson (Coshocton/Riverview), Adrian Ramirez (Archbold) and Patrick Brean (Ashland) while Anna Hairston and Shawn Campo (Galion) PR'd at 800 and Zach Bradley (Sheffield/Brookside) at 1500.

"I asked the team to make lemonade," said Head Coach Karen Brandt, referring to a 1 hour drive to Defiance versus 3 1/2 to Hanover. "I think they did a pretty good job of doing just that. While the conditions were better than they would have been in Defiance, it was still a long, cold day. Our athletes are good competitors who are really committed to doing their best and don't look for excuses."

The Beavers will travel to Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday, April 4 to take part in the Marv Frye Invitational.

-BEAVERS-