ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University men’s and women’s track and field teams participated in two meets over the weekend at the Vanderbilt University Invitational and the Spartan Classic.
In Tennessee, the Thunder competed against several Division I and II teams in the non-scoring meet. Trine had many outstanding performances during the two-day event. Senior Dustin Stutzman (Topeka, Ind./Westview) turned in the top finish as he placed second in the shot put with a throw of 16.14m, less than a 1/2 meter behind the winner. Stutzman bested 15 other competitors, including 13 Division I athletes.
Sophomore Tyler Bourdo (Plainwell, Mich./Delton-Kellogg) also had solid weekend setting a new school record in the 400m and anchored the 4x400m relay that also set a new record. In the 400m, Bourdo placed fifth overall and third amongst runners from 4-year schools with a time of 47.77 which eclipsed his own school record by .70 of a second. Bourdo would also place 10th in the 200m with a time of 22.13. In the relay, Bourdo teamed with freshman Luke Fimreite (McCordsville, Ind./Mount Vernon) and seniors Dan Linder (DeWitt, Mich./Grand Ledge) and Nate Konzen (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Christian) to finish second in a new school record time of 3.15.03. The team finished less than a second behind Division I Virginia Commonwealth and beat out five other DI schools.
At the non-scoring Spartan Classic hosted by Manchester University, senior Danielle Reenders (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) had the top performance as she picked up gold in the javelin with a throw of 33.28m. Other top performances on the women’s side included freshman Courtney Forsythe (West Mansfield, Ohio/Benjamin Logan) who placed fifth in the steeplechase with a time of 13:01.84 and senior Sannie Anderson (Hesperia, Mich./Hesperia) finishing sixth in the 800m with a time of 2:26.97.
For the men, sophomore Michael Becker (Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon) had the top finish, placing third in the 5000m in a time of 15:42.39. In the javelin, senior Seth Ware (Utica, Ohio/Utica) came in fourth with a throw of 43.55m. Junior Lincoln Frey (Pettisville, Ohio/Pettisville) would place sixth in the pole vault, clearing a height of 4.10m.
The teams will next compete in the Gina Relays hosted by Hillsdale College on April 26 beginning at noon.