ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine University men's track & field team posted a handful of event victories and several top finishes to come away with a convincing team win at the Keith Turner Alumni Invite.
The Thunder captured the overall team victory by nearly 100 points over its nearest opponent with an overall total of 174 points. Manchester University was second with 76 points and Adrian (Mich.) College rounded out the top three schools with 74 points.
Leading the way in the running events was junior Jasper Bassett (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) who won both the 600-meter and 300-meter events. Bassett posted a winning time of 1:23.29 in the 600m and crossed the finish line in a time of 36.36 seconds in the 300m to take top honors. In addition to Bassett in the 600m, the Thunder had another runner place in the top-five in junior Gregory Littlejohn (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) who placed fourth in a time of 1:27.94. Junior Eric Townsend (Greenwood, Ind./Roncalli) finished as runner-up to Bassett in the 300m with a time of 36.69 seconds.
Trine dominated in the 3000-meter event with the Thunder taking second thru ninth place. Freshman Noah Acker (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) had the fastest overall time for the team at 9:01.59. Junior Jonathan Phillips (Royal Center, Ind./Pioneer Junior-Senior) was next at 9:05.44 and freshman Jack Beakas (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) rounded out the top three in a time of 9:06.84.
In addition to competing in the 3000m, Phillips also ran in the one-mile run and took the most event points with a mark of 4:30.62. Freshman teammate Levi Neuzerling (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) followed just behind with a time of 4:36.66.
In the field events, Trine captured two events beginning with a first-place effort by junior Jeffery Barnett (Fremont, Ohio/Fremont-Ross) in the long jump with a distance of 23' 1.25" (7.04 meters) which is the ninth farthest mark recorded so far this season in NCAA Division III.
Junior Jacob Payne (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) took top honors in the pole vault, clearing the bar in a height of 14' 5.25" (4.40 meters). Fellow junior Ryan Haarer (Goshen, Ind./Northridge) placed third in the event with a best effort of 13' 11.25" (4.25 meters).
Trine will next compete in the Mike Lints Alumni Open hosted by Grand Valley State University next Saturday, Jan. 27 in Allendale, Mich. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.