February 11, 2017

Results

WESTERVILLE, Ohio - Bluffton track and field athletes in unprecedented numbers competed in, scored points, and reached the podium at the All-Ohio Indoor Track and Field Championship. At this prestigious meet that brings together the top Division 3 athletes in the state, there were 15 Beavers, the most in the history of the program, competing in 10 events.

Junior D’Nae Reese (Columbus/Upper Arlington) led the Beaver contingent with a 2nd place in the 16 woman field in the weight throw. Reese had the field covered until the last round when she was eclipsed 17.25 meters (56’ 7.25”) to 17.24 meters (56’ 6.75”). Only a step down on the podium in the men’s long jump was freshman Stanley Williams (Sterling Heights, MI/Chippewa Valley) with a leap of 22’ 10” (6.96 meters).

Junior Kyle Knezovich (Utica), wearing three hats on the day, finished 4th in the men’s pole vault after running the 400 meter leg of the men’s distance medley relay that opened the meet with a 7th place points-paying position and closed the day as lead-off on the 4 x 400 meter relay which broke the 12-year-old school record, coming home 5th in the field of 12 teams. The medley personnel consisted of junior Kris Lyons (Vickery/Margaretta), Knezovich, freshman Connor Gulick (Utica) and Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul) while the 4 x 400 consisted of Knezovich, Williams, Fisher and sophomore Quincy Salcido (Van Wert).

Prior to the 4 x 400, Salcido had run the open 400 where he placed 7th in the field of 14 with a season best 50.71 clocking while Fisher sandwiched the open 800 between his two relay efforts where he claimed the 8th spot out of 14, also in a season best 2:00.82. Finally, senior DiVaunta Spearman (Sandusky/Willard) threw his way into the top half of the men’s weight field with an 8th place finish, heaving the ball 49’ 9.25” (15.17 meters).

“We are excited to have had this number of athletes in the meet and are doubly pleased at the points and places we accumulated,” said Head Coach Karen Brandt. ”It is highly rewarding to see our athletes take on the best in the state and do so well. We are looking forward to next week’s HCAC championship meet with the anticipation of many more total efforts among our athletes.”

The HCAC Indoor Track and Field Championship will be contested at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Saturday, Feb. 18 with both track and field events commencing at 1 p.m.

-BEAVERS-