ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine men's track and field team hosted the Jon and Carol Liechty Alumni Invitational Saturday in Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic Recreation Center.
The event served as an exhibition tune-up for the Thunder as they work there way back into the meat of the indoor season following the holiday break. The team welcomed back several alumni who competed in events throughout the day. The team was also able to thank Jon and Carol Liechty for serving as the sponsors for the event and for traveling to support the meet.
Adam Schaaf (Greentown, Ind./Eastern) returned to competition on the track after missing the cross country season due to injury. Schaaf ran a 4:48 mile. His return is expected to give the Thunder a boost with performance and more depth in distance events.
Zach Markley (Winamac, Ind./Winamac) was one of several Thunder performers to expand his performance outside his normal scope. In addition to winning the 300-meter dash, Markley added second-place finishes in the 60-meter dash and 600-meter run. Markley is normally one of Trine's top performers in the 400-meter event.
Freshman Jasper Bassett (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) extended his range to 600 meters to win the event. Bassett is projected to compete primarily in sprints the rest of the season.
Kody Snyder (Burnettsville, Ind./Twin Lake) debuted on the track after seeing success during the cross country season. The freshman won the 3000-meter run and should be a factor for the team in distance events this winter.
Logan Lindsley (Battle Creek, Mich./Quincy) continued to prove himself an able performer in the triple jump. His jump of over 42 feet would have been a career-best and school record had the event been an official meet.
Trine returns to the track next Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational.