February 23, 2015

Results  I  Photos  I  Trey Everett Interview

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - A day’s delay due to weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the men’s and women’s track and field team as they traveled to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Sunday, Feb. 22, to compete in the HCAC Indoor Track & Field Championship. Both teams enjoyed their best finish to date since the championship commenced in 2011 with the men taking 3rd and the women 6th. 

In what has become nearly a weekly trend, sophomore Trey Everett (Sidney/Fairlawn) won the high jump and long jump competitions, both in meet-record performances of 6’ 9.50” and 23’ 2.75”, respectively. Also victorious with a new meet-record mark was sophomore Terrill Webb (Kenton) in women’s pole vault, clearing the bar at 10’ 11.75”. Joining Everett and Webb in the ranks of champions in field events was junior Edgar Gonzalez (Melvindale, Mich./Melvindale) who threw a new PR 53’ 3.75” in the weight, putting Gonzalez less than two feet from the school record held by Bluffton throws coach Jason Fisher. On the track, freshman Sarah Hunter (Mt. Blanchard/Riverdale) won the 400 meters in 59.75 and she returned to the track a short 50 minutes later to place second in the 800 meters at 2:24.27.

Equally impressive were the number of PR performances produced throughout the day. Sophomore Anna Hairston (Mansfield/Ontario) opened the day’s competition in the 5000 meters, dropping 32 seconds from her previous best and placing 5th.  She came back later in the day to also place 5th in the 3000 meter event, only four seconds from her best time, truly an impressive double. Fellow 3000 participant Raven Wilson (Coshocton/Riverview) produced a PR of her own in the event. Freshman Alissa Hauke (Hillsboro) dropped 10 seconds from her mile time to place 5th in a field of 20 in 5:35.61, just missing the 4th place position by .61 of a second. 

Sophomore Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul), despite quite a disrupted season leading up to the championship, opened his meet with a 5th place finish in the mile then returned to the track in the 3000 to place 6th in a new personal-best time. Fisher looks to rebuild from here for the outdoor campaign. Junior Kristin Schiefer (Bucyrus/Wynford) was delighted with her PR, points-paying finish in women’s high jump. Junior Hannah Krull (Lewisburg/Tri-County North) was equally pleased with her new best in the long jump, 15’ 3”, taking 9th in the competition in just her first season in the event. 

Schiefer and Krull were joined by sophomore Taylor Rose (Johnstown/Northridge) and freshman Katie Baumlein (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) to PR in the 4 x 200 meter relay; then later in the day by Hauke and Hunter to PR in the 4 x 400 and both in points positions. Sophomore Patrick Brean (Ashland) ran a big new best time over 5000 meters as did freshman Christopher Brenner (Defiance) in the 60-meter hurdles and Shawn Campo (Galion) at 800 meters. 

“I am both impressed and proud of the men and women on our team,” said Head Coach Karen Brandt. “As we continue to build the program, we are attracting not only more athletes of talent, but increasing the level of commitment to hard work and achievement from all of our athletes and it is showing in the results. Our event coaches are knowledgeable teachers of their respective disciplines, who for example like Coach McCoy, have not only honed the talents of athletes like Trey, but developed Hannah’s ability in the long jump from scratch at the start of the season. My first trip to this meet was in 2012 where the men finished last; to come back three years later and place third is a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance and teamwork.”

The Heartland Conference will announce the post-season awards on Tuesday, Feb. 24, following the points tabulations from Sunday's championship meet. Check out the Bluffton Track and Field Webpage http://www.bluffton.edu/athletics/trackandfield/ for award winners Tuesday afternoon. 

The HCAC championship concluded the indoor schedule with the exception of the NCAA National Championship coming up March 13th and 14th in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for qualified athletes. The top 15 declared men and top 17 declared women in the nation will meet at the JDL Fast Track facility as Roanoke College hosts the national event. 

-BEAVERS-