Courtesy of MAC Sport Information Departments
Akron // Akron Invitational
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron senior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) registered a school- and Mid-American Conference-record mark of 14-9.50 (4.51m) to triumph in the women's pole vault to highlight the Zips' performances on the final day of the 16th Annual Akron Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Stile Athletics Field House.
Akron finished the weekend posting an impressive 13 victories as part of 46 overall top-five efforts.
Bryan's mark stands as the No. 3 mark in the NCAA this season and bests her own school-record mark of 14-8 (4.47m) set at the 2018 Akron Invitational on Feb. 3, 2018. Redshirt junior Abby Helminiak (Toledo, Ohio) placed third in the event with a clearance of 13-1.50 (4.00m).
Redshirt sophomore Noah Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) posted the fourth-fastest time in indoor program history in the men's 200 meters crossing the line second in a time of 21.27. It marked only the second indoor 200-meter race for Williams and first in two years.
Redshirt freshman Demetrius Jackson (Cleveland, Ohio) garnered a career-best time of 47.29, the fifth-fastest time in Akron indoor program history, to place second in the men's 400 meters. Adding a career-best time to finish third in 48.39 was sophomore Amir Willis(Cincinnati, Ohio).
Redshirt junior Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) captured the men's heptathlon registering a career-best score of 5,041. Redshirt freshman Bobby Casey (Mayfield Heights, Ohio) added a personal-best total of 4,832 to place third in the event.
Hochbein opened second-day competition in the men's heptathlon earning a career-best time of 8.53 to win the 60-meter hurdles, while Casey crossed the line fourth in 8.95.
Casey and Hochbein each posted the top mark of 14-3.25 (4.35m) in the pole vault before the attention turned to the final event, the 1,000 meters. Hochbein pushed the lead for the majority of the race and fell just short of establishing a career-best time crossing the line second in 2:55.33, while Casey turned in a career-low performance of 3:11.22.
Senior Matt Keim (Bollivar, Ohio) established a career-best clearance of 17-1.50 (5.22m) to earn the victory in the men's pole vault. Senior Tyler Fraker (Delta, Ohio) also added a career-best mark eclipsing 16-7.50 (5.07m) to finish third.
Sophomore Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) won the men's high jump with a clearance of 6-11.75 (2.13m).
Senior Varvara Lissichkina (Karaganda Kazkhstan) earned the victory in the women's 800 meters in a time of 2:10.45, while freshman Makenna Heimlich (Shelby, Ohio) added a career-best time of 2:11.27 to place third.
The men's 4x400 relay team of Jackson, Williams, Willis and redshirt sophomore Garrett White (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) bested the field in a time of 3:13.56.
Sophomore Jasmyn Allen (Twinsburg, Ohio) turned in a career-best time of 8.61 en route to placing second in the women's 60-meter hurdles.
Freshman Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) finished second in the men's long jump on the strength of a career-best mark of 24-4.25 (7.42m).
Senior Marcques Gibbs (Darby, Pa.) earned a second-place effort in the men's triple jump recording a mark of 47-6.25 (14.48m).
Senior Nick Stricklen (Lexington, Ohio) crossed the line in 4:13.53 to place third in the men's mile, while redshirt junior Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was third in the men's 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.20.
Sophomore Zoi Balamouti (Heraklon, Greece) finished third in the women's triple jump with a mark of 39-10.50 (12.15m).
Sophomore Lizzy Gurko (Northfield, Ohio) and junior Leah Recker (Findlay, Ohio) finished first and second, respectively, in the women's blue division 800 meters crossing the line in 2:13.55 and 2:13.95.
Freshman William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.) won the men's blue division weight throw with a career-best mark of 59-0 (18.00m).
Akron returns to competition next weekend participating in the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., and the Doug Raymond Invitational in Kent, Ohio.
Ball State // Akron Invitational
AKRON, Ohio - - Senior sprinter Amber Jones(Matteson, Ill./Rich South) became the second member of the Ball State indoor track & field program to earn a Mid-American Conference automatic qualifying mark this season with a career-fast time of 55.43 in the 400m Saturday evening at the Akron Invitational.
Jones' effort was one of 12 personal-bests on the day for the Cardinals, who also racked up 16 top 10 performances at the Stile Athletics Field House, site of the 2020 MAC Indoor Championships at the end of the month.
The 400m was not the only big race for Jones, as she placed second in the gold race of the 200m with a time of 25.06.
Freshman Charity Griffith (Arlington, Ind./Rushville) was the first Ball State student-athlete to break into the top 10, placing second in the blue section of the high jump after clearing 1.59m.
Three events later, junior Dejah Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) ran her way to a career-fast time of 56.88 in the 400m blue race, taking second in that field.
Ball State did not disappoint in the 60m hurdles either, with a pair of runners qualifying for the finals. In the end, redshirt freshman Kennedy Batts (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) took third in a career-best 8.73, while junior Anasja Troutman (Chesterland, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) placed fifth in 8.83.
Ball State's distance group also shined on the day, with all six runners posting personal-bests between the 800m blue race and 3,000m gold race.
In the 800m, redshirt sophomore Madison Kiser (Royal Center, Ind./Pioneer High School) led the way with a third-place time of 2:14.57. In the 3,000m, senior Maritza Rodriguez (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) earned Ball State's fourth and final second-place effort on the day, crossing the line in a career-fast 9:48.17.
The Ball State indoor track & field team returns to action next Friday, when it opens competition in the two-day Music City Challenge hosted by Vanderbilt.
Bowling Green // Akron Invitational
Akron, Ohio – Sophomore Iyanna Ross broke the school record in the 400 and anchored the 1600 relay team that posted the second-fastest time in program history as the Bowling Green State University indoor track and field team competed at the Akron Invitational Saturday.
The Falcons set no fewer than 13 personal bests and added four more season bests as BGSU begins the home stretch of the indoor regular season. Another sophomore, Ayanna Burrell, earned a Mid-American Conference automatic qualifying bid in the triple jump.
BIG DAY FROM ROSS
Buffalo // Akron Invitational
AKRON, Ohio – The University at Buffalo track and field team competed at the University of Akron Collegiate Invitational. The two-day meet displayed top performances on both sides of the facility. The Bulls continue to improve with three weeks left in the indoor season.
DAY ONE RECAP
The Bulls showed their dominance in the 5,000 meter run as their cross country talents shined. The trio of Meghan LaTuso (third place – 17:47.48), Riley Jones (fourth place – 17:49.71) and Alexia Hecico (10th place – 18:31.95) finished in the top-10. Only UB and Dayton had three runners finish in the top-10.
On the men's side of the 5,000 meter run, Ryan Buzby finished in 11th place in a time of 15:22.71 as Benjamin Cardamone finished 16th in 15:34.30.
The UB men's A-team of Alex Hislop, Leon Atkins, Patrick Hazlitt and Louis Greco claimed second place in the distance medley relay in 10:22.57.
Kelsey Shapiro leaped to a ninth place finish in the long jump with a distance of 5.15m/16-10.75. Freshman Jacob Liberati was just shy of his personal-best as he jumped 6.73m/22-01.00 for a third place finish.
DAY TWO RECAP
Selina Von Jackowski continued her dominance in the 60-meter hurdles as she won in a time of 8.54. Anthony Clarktook second place on the men's side in a time of 8.05.
Asia Hoyte threw a personal-record distance of 17.79m/58-04.50 in the weight throw for second place.
Jeremy Lissade sprinted to a third place finish in the 60-meter dash as he claimed a personal-record of 6.87.
In the men's gold mile, Caleb Covell (fifth place – 4:13.94) and Cal Puskar (seventh place –4:13.30) moved into UB's all-time top-10 list in the indoor one mile race.
Leon Atkins had his season opener in the 800-meter dash as he was just edged out by .05 seconds for second place. Atkins finished in a time of 1:51.36.
"There were many season-bests and personal-records at the Akron Invite," stated head coach Vicki Mitchell. "We are showing progress and are headed in the right direction. There is still work to be done in all areas, but we are pleased with the continued improvements."
UP NEXT
The Bulls will participate at the Kent State Invite on Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 in Kent, Ohio. The meet is set to start at 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Central Michigan // Meyo Invitational
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Logan Targgart tied the program record in winning the men's weight throw and Nadia Williams placed fifth in the women's 60-meter dash to highlight the Central Michigan track & field team's performances at the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Fighting Irish's Loftus Center.
Targgart's winning toss covered 71 feet, 11 inches and tied the CMU record set in 2012 by Kevin Mays.
Targgart's previous career best throw, 71-4, came last weekend at CMU's Jake Skoog Open. He, like his teammates, benefitted from good competition, CMU director of track & field/cross country Jenny Swieton said.
The Meyo featured some of the best across-the-board competition the Chippewas are likely to see this season, until the NCAA Indoor Championships. The field included several Big Ten and Mid-American Conference schools.
Targgart's 71-11 is the best among MAC throwers and sixth best in the nation this season.
"It helped people step up a little bit," Swieton said. "This was super good for Logan because (the competition) is going to be similar to what it'll be like at (the NCAA Indoor Championships). This is the closest competition to NCAA we'll get for him. It's good for him to have this experience before NCAAs so he's used to that atmosphere a little bit more."
Highlights
Williams finished in 7.56 seconds in placing fifth in the women's 60, while CMU's Maija Rettelle, Madi Mandelke, Emma Fountain and Ana Garcia Arias combined to finish sixth in the women's 4,000-meter distance medley relay (12:28.44).
Also for CMU, Quiara Wheeler placed eighth in the women's weight throw at 64-8; Siobhan Szerencsits was 10th in the women's pole vault, 11-10; Lauren Beckman finished 13th in the women's 5,000-meter run, 17:49.89; Maya Bennett placed 14th in the women's weight throw, 57-11 ¾; and Dante Lander placed 14th in the men's 400, 48.99.
"In every meet you have some good things, and some not so good things," Swieton said. "But even the people who had OK days are progressing. They're taking steps and moving forward. So, that's good. That's all we can ask for at this point."
Next
CMU will head to Grand Valley State to compete in the GVSU Big Meet on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-15. It marks CMU's second trip to Allendale this season. The Chippewas competed in the indoor-season-opening GVSU Holiday Open in early December.
Eastern Michigan Men // Meyo Invitational
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team tallied two more podium finishes during the second and final day of the Meyo Invitational Saturday, Feb. 8 inside the Loftus Sports Center.
Sophomore harrier Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) represented the Eagles in the Ryan Shay 3K, and recorded EMU's best finish of the day as he ended the event in second place with a time of 8:03.28. Meanwhile, junior Skyler Lester (Marietta, Ga.-Marietta) also earned a podium place, as he finished in a tie for third place in the high jump with a leap of 2.06 meters.
After winning the triple jump Friday, redshirt junior Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed (Arlington, Va.-Fishburne Military) ranked fourth in the long jump at 7.46 meters, while senior Carlos Sanchez Juan (Onil, Spain-Ies La Creueta) finished fifth with a leap of 7.37 meters. Additionally, junior Chukwusom Enekwechi (Valley Stream, N.Y.-Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences (Monroe College)) placed sixth overall in the shot put with a throw of 17.46 meters.
From there, junior Owen Day (Ottawa, Ontario-International School of Dusseldorf) was 10th in the Meyo Mile as he crossed the finish line in 4:14.09, while senior Roderic Wilson(Atlanta, Ga.-Blanche Ely) and junior Derek Jones (Erie, Pa.-Cathedral Preparatory) were ninth and 11th in the 800-meter run with times of 1:52.78 and 1:52.90, respectively. Meanwhile, freshman Wilho Hautala (Heinola, Finaldn-Lahden Lyseo) made his EMU debut in the mile run, where he finished 20th overall with a time of 4:10.47.
The 4x400-meter relay team consisting of freshman Frankie Grey (Brentwood, N.Y.-Brentwood), freshman Trent Barron (Flint, Mich.-Carman-Ainsworth), junior Owen Richardson(Basingstoke, England-The Costello School), and Jones placed sixth overall with a mark of 3:14.55. Earlier in the day, sophomore Alec Frymier (Hilliard, Ohio-Hilliard Bradley) narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 60-meter hurdles final, as he finished ninth in the semifinals with a time of 8.22 seconds.
Eastern will return to competition Friday, Feb. 14, as it heads to Allendale, Mich. to take part in the GVSU Big Meet.
Eastern Michigan Women // Meyo Invitational
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan women's track and field team closed out the second and final day of the Meyo Invitational Saturday, Feb. 8 inside the Loftus Sports Center.
Sophomore Janay Hall (Fayetteville, N.C.-South View (N.C. State)) posted EMU's best finish of the day, as she came in fourth place in the 800-meter event with a time of 2:10.92. The Eagles also netted a pair of top-10 finishes in the distance events, as redshirt senior Emily Smith (Somerset, England-Wells Cathedral School) ranked seventh in the mile with a time of 4:53.51, while senior Karlie Swanson (New South Wales, Australia-Bellingen (Boise State)) was eighth in the 3,000-meter race with a mark of 9:55.45.
Building on Friday's performance, freshman Alyson Davis (Summerfield, N.C.-Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts) won her heat of the 60-meter hurdles semifinals and clinched a berth in the final race, where she finished seventh overall with a time of 8.60 seconds. From there, senior co-captain Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio-West Geauga)recorded the fifth-fastest time in 60-meter dash semifinals, and went on to finish eighth in the title race with a time of 7.63 seconds.
The Eagles closed out the meet with the 4x400-meter relay, as the quartet of sophomore Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School), sophomore Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Pioneer), junior Abbey Zastrow (Arcadia, Wis.-Arcadia (University of Mary)), and junior Keypathwa Gibson (Toledo, Ohio-Roy C. Start) finished sixth with a time of 3:45.72. In the field events, junior pole vaulter Graysen Simmons (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) was 15th with a mark of meters, freshman Nya Lakin (Dacula, Ga.-Mill Creek)finished 19th in the triple jump at 11.14 meters, while junior Kadian Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica-Immaculate Conception) and freshman Miranda Cadwell (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield South) were 21st and 30th in the shot put with throws of 13.60 and 13.00 meters, respectively.
The Eagles will return to action at the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Mich. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-15, while also sending competitors to Ames, Iowa for the Iowa State Classic.
Kent State // Akron Invitational
AKRON, Ohio – Jake Wickey's personal-best toss of 68'-0.25" in the men's weight throw led the way as Kent State totaled six event victories on Saturday's final day of competition at the Akron Invitational. Five of those first-place finishes came in the evening session's gold division events.
The Golden Flashes claimed the top two spots in both women's high jump and women's shot put. Alyssa Mathenyneared her indoor personal-best by clearing 5'-8" to win the high jump. Lillie Franks had a top height of 5'-6.5" for runner-up honors. Grace Tennant won the shot put (49'-8.5") and Gabby Bailey was right behind (49'-3.5") for second place.
Christian Champen remained unbeaten in the men's pole vault with a season-best clearance of 17'-1.5". In his debut, Anthony Milliner soared 47'-7" to win the men's triple jump.
Two additional Flashes placed second on Saturday. Brad Jones cleared a season-best height of 6'-8" in the men's high jump and Walter Petzel took second in the men's shot put with a mark of 54'-9.5".
Asa Hodrick and Drew Johnson led Kent State on the track with third-place finishes. Hodrick clocked a 21.36 in the men's 200-meter dash and Johnson had a personal-best time of 1:52.92 in the men's 800-meter run.
During the morning's blue division event session, Nate Cousino won the men's 800-meter run in 1:53.39.
The Golden Flashes will be back in action as they host the Doug Raymond National Qualifier next Friday (Feb. 14) and Saturday (Feb. 15) at the Kent State Field House.
Miami // Meyo Invitational
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Including a record-setting performance by Finley Mclear in the 800, several RedHawks turned in big performances on the second day of Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational.
Mclear took home the victory in the championship section of the 800m up against several of the country's top runners in the event. His time of 1:48.27 goes down as the fastest indoor time recorded by a Miami men's athlete in the event, edging out Sean Torpy's 1:48.44 from just a year ago. The run also gives the sophomore from England the eighth-best time in the country recorded so far this season.Alongside Mclear in the event, Torpy had a great run himself; his time of 1:49.56 garnered a seventh-place finish and is in its own right a top-twenty time in the national rankings.
Over in the women's races, Emily Akin had another good showing in the 800, running just barely off her PR pace with a time of 2:11.82 for a top-ten finish. She still has yet to finish outside the top ten of any 800 or mile race she has entered this season. There were several other personal-best runs across Miami's women's runners Saturday, including McKenna Fry in the mile and Hannah Santoni in the 3K.
While Olivia Bechtel and Kayla Walters reached the semis of the 60m dash and 60m hurdles respectively, neither of the pair advanced on to Saturday's finals.
In the field, Hannah Falcione grabbed a tenth-place finish with a distance of 11.71m in the triple jump.
On the men's side, Ivan Dye continued his huge weekend with a great performance in the 400. The senior ran a time of 48.46 for a PR and a fifth-place finish. Joining him in running a personal-best time was Luke Finnegan, whose 48.86 granted him 12th place. Those two joined Jacob Matthews and Jeremiah Hunter in the 4x400, where the RedHawks finished tenth behind a run of 3:15.44.
Several distance runners also had PRs in Jake Bertelsen (3K) and Anthony Camerieri (mile).
Miami will be back next weekend to run in Grand Valley State's annual Big Meet in Allendale, Mich. from Feb. 14-15.
Northern Illinois // Meyo Invitational
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Sophomore Jazmyn Smith (Pinecrest, Fla./Gulliver Prep) of the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team set a new school record in the long jump as the Huskies competed at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational this weekend.
Smith's mark of 6.02m (19-09.00) broke the previous record of 5.91m (19-04.75) set by Jehvania Whyte(Kingston, Jamaica/Vere Technical) at last season's Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship.
"Throughout the season we get on and off the bus expecting some people will have a great day, and some will have a not so great day. That's just part of our sport, nobody has a personal best every single weekend, though we still attempt it," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "We leave South Bend with an overwhelming amount of personal bests and season bests. In total, we traveled 19 athletes and managed to rack up a school record and 12 personal bests. That's an outstanding weekend when it comes to athletic development.
"With that said, it's exciting to enter the February stretch with a meet like this. This goes to show where we are right now, and where we're headed. Our jumpers had an outstanding weekend, winning both horizontal jumps, including a new school record by Jazmyn Smith. It's nice to see here competing on the runway and representing a very strong contingent within our program."
Smith's mark, which is the second-best in the MAC this season, was set on her second of six jumps in the competition and was an inch better than second-place Jaden Mattox of Purdue. In the triple jump, Whyte dominated the competition with a mark of 12.65m (41-06), nearly a foot better than Kyra Arendt's second-place jump of 12.42m (40-09). Each of Whyte's legal marks in the competition would have been good enough to win the triple jump title.
In the 60-meter hurdles, senior Remy Amarteifio (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) advanced through two rounds of competition to qualify for the final, where she ran a time of 8.54 seconds, the second-fastest time in the MAC this season, to finish sixth.
"It was exciting, as always, to watch Remy (Amarteifio) and Jehvania (Whyte) in their own areas continue to round into championship form," said Teaberry. "Jehvania won by a sizable margin in the triple jump and continues to round into form more and more each weekend. Remy ran several rounds of the hurdles and competed very well in a strong final. If there is one thing I know about these two, it's that they are high-level competitors and thrive come championship season."
Competing in the mile, redshirt sophomore Ashley Tutt (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) also posted a time that was good for second-fastest in the conference this season, clocking in at 4:51.40 to finish fourth.
"Ashley Tutt returned to the track for her first open performance since December and just missed the MAC auto mark at a distance she just ran for the first time collegiately," said Teaberry. "Where there is a race to be had, that young lady can turn it on and get up for it."
Senior Vivian Overbeck (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills) earned fifth in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:12.40, the third-best time in the MAC this year. Junior Victoria Robinson (Lansing, Kan./Kansas State) posted the fourth-best time in the MAC this season in the 800 meters, finishing 10th with a time of 2:11.98.
"Victoria Robinson has been a consistently improving performer for us since her transfer to DeKalb this fall," said Teaberry. "She has already shaved nearly two seconds off her previous lifetime best and close in more on a MAC automatic standard."
Another top-10 conference time came in the 400-meter dash, where senior Grace Harris (Dousman, Wis.) ran a time of 56.28 seconds, finishing 14th with the ninth-best time in the MAC this season.
NIU will return to action next weekend when the Huskies will travel to a pair of different competitions, heading to the Iowa State Classic (Feb. 14-15) as well as the GVSU Big Meet (Feb. 14).
Ohio // Marshall Invitational
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. -- The Ohio track & field team took fourth place with 93 points at the Marshall Invitational, which concluded this afternoon at the Jeff Small Track at the Chris Cline Athletics Complex.
The Bobcats saw a number of student-athletes turn in solid performance en route to a top-four finish.
Senior Ashleigh Kitrell (Oakland, Neb.) continued her strong indoor season by winning the 600-meter run in 1:31.03, setting a track record.
Junior Abby Moore (Rootstown, Ohio) notched her second first-place finish in as many days. After winning the weight throw with a toss of 18.65 meters on Friday (Feb. 7), Moore won the shot put with mark of 13.98 meters. Sophomore Autumn Mohan (Chillicothe, Ohio) turned in a fifth-place finish in the shot put with a toss of 12.38 meters.
Ohio claimed places two through eight in the 3000-meter run. Senior Tiffany Hill (Dublin, Ohio) took second in 10:30.51, redshirt sophomore Jessica Hartman (Lebanon, Ohio) finished third in 10:41.28, freshman Carina Weaver (Lexington, Ohio) placed fifth in 10:48.11, junior Tate Dawson (Doylestown, Pa.) claimed fifth in 10:50.83, sophomore Peyton Grigsby(Wadsworth, Ohio) took sixth in 10:59.43, sophomore Kat Willette )Dublin, Ohio) finished seventh in 11:00.19 and redshirt freshman Lauren Parrell (Brighton, Mich.) placed eighth in 11:03.33.
Sophomore Stephanie Pierce (Fairborn, Ohio) turned in a third-place finish in the 800-meter run, crossing the finish line in 2:16.46.
The Bobcats took three of the top-eight spots in the long jump. Freshman Kassidy Betzing (Pomeroy, Ohio) placed third with a mark of 5.29 meters, senior Tajah Haley (Washington, Pa.) finished fifth with leap of 4.95 meters and sophomore Halie Sciury (East Sparta, Ohio) finished eighth with a distance of 4.89 meters. Haley also took seventh in the high jump with a mark of 1.52 meters.
In the 60-meter hurdles, freshman Maria Welch (Massillon, Ohio) recorded a sixth-place finish in 9.02.
Redshirt sophomore Abigail Summers (Powell, Ohio) scored a point for the Bobcats in the 200-meter dash by placing eighth with a time of 26.62.
With the Marshall Invitational in the books, the Bobcats will head to northeast Ohio next week (Feb. 14-15) for the Kent State Qualifier in Kent, Ohio.
Toledo
Akron Invitational // JDL Camel City Elite
AKRON, Ohio / WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The University of Toledo women's track and field team closed out its weekend of competition in Akron, Ohio and Winston-Salem, N.C. on Saturday. The Rockets tallied a total of seven personal-bests and 10 top-10 finishes on the weekend.
At the JDL Camel City Elite in Winston-Salem, senior Petronela Simiuc posted a time of 4:42.40 in the elite mile to place seventh.
"Petronela had another really good day with a cockeyed time that would have been a three-second personal best just two weeks ago," said head coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "A bit of bad luck and a tactical mistake early cost her the time we needed at the finish, but another great close and terrific competitive effort. She showed a ton of poise in a field full of pros, and a lot of tenacity in closing so hard to try to get herself back in the race. This is the most consistent she's been at this level, and I know she figured a few crucial things out on the track this afternoon. She's ready for a big breakthrough, and I'm confident it's coming."
In Akron, the Rockets rounded out competition at the Akron Invitational with senior Raynesha Lewis besting her long jump personal-best by 0.23 meters, recording a leap of 5.93 to place third. Junior Chloee Kleespies rounded out the top-10 in the shot put, tossing a mark of 11.52 to place 10th. On the track, junior Michelle Hostettler placed second in the mile with a time of 5:07.10. Fellow juniors Hannah Sponaugle and sophomore Maya Hannagan posted personal-bests in the mile, finishing eighth and 10th, respectively.
"Overall, there were a lot of solid performances in Akron," said assistant coach Nick Stenuf. "This meet was a good test for our team, as we gear up and get ready for the MAC Championships, which will be back in Akron in a couple of weeks."
Up Next
The Rockets split up for the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Mich. and David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University in Boston, Mass., Feb. 14-15.
Western Michigan // Akron Invitational
AKRON, Ohio – The Western Michigan track and field team wrapped up the Akron Invitational on Saturday afternoon with personal-best performances in the 60-meter hurdles highlighting the day's action for the Broncos.
Junior Tauja Foreman got the best of teammate and sophomore Taylor Rucker in the preliminaries of the 60-meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 8.94 seconds to Ruckers 9.0. Rucker then edged her teammate in the finals, taking fourth overall with a new personal-best time of 8.79 seconds. Foreman finished in sixth place, also with a personal-best time of 8.85.
Senior Erin Dowd continued her strong indoor season, taking second place in the 400-meter dash Gold Division race with an indoor personal-best time of 54.57 seconds. Dowd has now finished in the top two of all three of her individual races so far this season. Fellow senior Juliane Sormain ran a season-best time in the 800-meter run at 2:11.81, finishing fourth overall. In the Blue Division 400 race senior Alex Bryant took sixth with a 58.16 seconds.
Senior Brittney Hall had an indoor personal-best time of 10:10.40 in the 3,000-meter run, taking eighth overall. In the Mile Blue Division race freshman Annalise James had a standout performance with a seventh place finish and a time of 5:11.21.
Bryant, Dowd, Sormain and Jasmine McLemore combined to run a time of 3:48.52 seconds to finish third in the 4x400-meter relay, WMU's fastest time so far this season.
Junior Tiere Richardson took third overall in the triple jump Blue Division competition with a distance of 36-2.25 (11.03m), her highest marks of the season. In the Gold Division of the shot put, junior Emily Meier took seventh overall after throwing 45-4.50 (13.83m). In the Blue Division of the event, sophomore Madison Ochs took sixth with a distance of 43-2.25 (13.16m). In the Blue Division of the weight throw, junior Aniya Davis took fifth overall after throwing 54-3.25 (16.54m).
Western Michigan heads up to Grand Valley State for the Friday and Saturday Big Meets in its final action before the MAC Championship on Feb. 28-29.
