February 6, 2016

Results

ADA, Ohio - The Bluffton Beavers threw down the gauntlet at Ohio Northern University during the Joe Banks Track and Field Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 6. 

Junior Terrill Webb (Kenton) wowed the crowd with a 12’ 5.50” clearance in the women’s pole vault, dominating the event by 8.25 inches over her nearest competitor and at the time of clearance, landing her 4th on the NCAA national championship indoor qualifying list. The height also obliterates Webb’s own school record of 12’ set earlier this season. 

Also re-establishing her own school record in the weight throw was sophomore D’Nae Reese (Columbus/Upper Arlington), getting the ball out there 50’ 10.25” and placing 2nd in a field of 28. Senior Edgar Gonzalez (Melvindale, Mich./Melvindale) also placed 2nd out of 37 in the men’s weight throw, less than an inch from his PR, bested only by his coach and mentor, Jason Fisher, a 2010 Bluffton University graduate who won the meet with a lifetime best 60’ 10.75”. Fisher’s mark sets a new Joe Banks Invitational meet record and is less than five feet from the U.S. National Track & Field championship qualifying standard. 

The women’s distance medley relay, a combination of middle and sprint distances, comprised of sophomore Sarah Hunter (Mt. Blanchard/Riverdale), freshman Devony Miller (Findlay/Liberty-Benton), sophomore Alissa Hauke (Hillsboro) and junior Anna Hairston (Mansfield/Ontario), ran a time that is certain to gain them entry to the upcoming All-Ohio Championship meet while the women’s 4 x 400 relay (Webb, senior Hannah Krull, Miller and Hunter) is on the edge of qualification with their improved time of 4:17.46. 

It was a good day of best performances for a number of the Beavers. In field events, junior DiVaunta Spearman (Sandusky/Willard) improved his distance in the weight throw while freshman Sarah Oliver (Lexington) continued to improve her clearances in the vault. Best times ran the gamut of distances from 200 to 3000 meters. Freshman Keturah Warlick (East Point, Mich./Clintondale) clocked 27.78 over 200 meters, edging closer to the school record, while freshman Austin McKinnon (Baltimore/Millersport) took additional time off at 400 meters. Freshman Daniel Gregg (Ontario/Mansfield Christian), a true track novice in his first year of competition, continued to improve at both the 800 and the mile as did fellow freshman Michelle Kelsey (South Whitley, Ind./Whitko) in both events. Junior Miranda Hostettler (Glenmont/West Holmes) continued to step up her game at the mile, dropping 18 seconds from her lifetime best while the trio of freshmen Jonah Eckert (Terre Haute, Ind./West Vigo) and Jacob Hill (Dayton/Wayne) as well as sophomore Chris Tatom (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) all improved at the 3000 meter distance. 

“It was an extremely gratifying meet today,” said Head Coach Karen Brandt. “Terrill’s clearance is evidence of the unwavering commitment and perseverance she and Coach Dillon have put in over the past two and a half years. I am confident there is more to come. To have so many athletes excel at their disciplines is evidence of their hard work and desire. To hear the team roaring as the 4 x 400 relays raced showed the esprit de corps of the program. To see Coach Fisher heave the weight out there and see his athletes’ pride in him is to know we have quality assistants helping to guide the team. It all made for a very good day!”

The team will split its efforts this upcoming weekend with qualified athletes competing at Otterbein University in the All-Ohio Championship on Saturday, Feb. 13, while others will compete at Defiance College on Friday, Feb. 12. 

-BEAVERS-