HILLSDALE, Mich. & SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Trine University men's track and field team had student-athletes competing in two different locations on Saturday: the University of Notre Dame at the Alex Wilson Invitational and Hillsdale College for the Hillsdale Tune-Up.
Jake Gladieux [Oregon, Ohio / Whitmer] was in action in the 200-meter dash at Notre Dame and placed 17th with a time of 50.30 seconds.
At Hillsdale, freshmen Blane Johnson [Allegan, Mich. / Allegan Senior] and Eli Lantz [Fort Wayne, Ind. / Churubusco] were 4th and 5th in the 800-meter dash with times of 2:05.78 and 2:08.47.
Everyone else in action on Saturday was involved in field events. Eight different competitors tied or set new career-bests in their events.
Theodore Samra [Lansing, Mich. / DeWitt] was the event champion in the weight throw at 16.85 meters (55' 3.5"), while Jacob Barkey [Waterloo, Ind. / DeKalb] was third at 15.75 meters (51' 8.25"), Ben Alston [Adrian, Mich. / Adrian] in fifth at 15.27 meters (50' 1.25") and Dillon Dennison [Ithica, Mich. / Alma] in seventh at 13.35 meters (43' 9.75"). Samra, Barkey and Dennison each hit a new personal best score.
In the shot put, junior Travis Dowling [Swayzee, Ind. / Oak Hill] was the event winner at 13.89 meters and Brandan Cross [Union City, Mich. / Union City] was behind him in third with a new career-best throw of 12.68 meters (41' 7.25").
Ben Williams [Farmington Hills, Mich. / Harrison] also won his event, the long jump, at 6.80 meters (22' 3.75").
Freshman Ethan Spahr [Osseo, Mich. / Pittsford] was runner-up in the triple jump with a career-best score of 12.60 meters (41' 4.25"). Spahr also tied his career-best mark in the high jump with a third-place 1.80 meters (5' 10.75") and classmate Shane Skinner [Adrian, Mich. / Sand Creek] was fourth with a personal best 1.70 meters (5' 7.00").
Nathan Leap [Tipton, Ind. / Tipton] was a fifth-place finisher in the pole vault at 3.66 meters (12' 0.00"), a new career-high.
Next Saturday, Trine looks to defend their title in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Indoor Championships. They will be at home in the Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic and Recreation Center (ARC).