NEW ORLEANS-- Four members of the Trine men's track and field team were named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Great Lakes All-Region team, the organization announced Monday.
Jeffery Barnett (Fremont, Ohio/Fremont-Ross), Sam Gilly (St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph-Ogden), Jacob Leopold (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf) and Patrick Richardville (Leo, Ind./Leo) each earned All-Region nods for the Thunder. Each performer earned All-Region recognition for the first time in their respective collegiate careers. To be named All-Region, an athlete must either finish in the top-five of an individual event or be part of a top-three relay team.
Barnett earned honors in the long jump. The freshman competed in the event in two meets this winter. He set a new school-record with a jump of 22 feet, 3.75 inches in the Trine Conditioner in December.
Gilly added another accolade to his list of honors this winter. The senior earned his first appearance in the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championship with the 13th-best qualifying weight throw in the nation. Gilly has also earned MIAA Field MVP and All-MIAA First Team honors and been named MIAA Field Athlete of the Week this season. He will compete in the weight throw national championship Friday at 10 a.m.
Leopold's honors came for his performance in the 800-meter run. The junior set a school-record with a time of 1:55.80 in the Hillsdale Wide-Track Classic. He placed second in the event in the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championship.
Richardville was honored for his efforts in the 60-meter dash. The sophomore ran a school-record time of 6.97 seconds in the event to place second in the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. That mark was tied for the 34th-best qualifying time in the nation.
The quartet of performers led Trine to the inaugural MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championship title. Gilly's performance in the National Championships Friday will officially conclude the indoor season for the Thunder men.