FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In their first meet of 2024, the Trine University men's track and field team competed at the University of Purdue-Fort Wayne on Saturday in the Mastodon Invitational. The Thunder had several key event wins in the 200-meter run, 400-meter run, 60-meter hurdles and long jump while competing against teams from multiple NCAA and NAIA divisions.
Zion Jackson had two of the event wins in the 200-meter run and long jump. The freshman ran a 23.12-second time in the sprint event and had a best score of 6.68 meters (21' 11.00") in the long jump. Jake Gladieux won the 60-meter hurdle event at 8.13 seconds in the finals while Ryan Smith (52.56 seconds) and Aaron Pike (52.65 seconds) went 1-2 in the 400-meter run for Trine.
A runner-up finish was credited to Ethan Spahr in the triple jump. He completed the event with a score of 12.57 meters (41' 3.00"). He was also third in the high jump at 1.85 meters (6' 0.75") to pace the Thunder men. In the 60-meter dash, Greysen Spohn brought home a third-place with a time of 6.99 seconds in the finals and Dillon Dennison was third in the weight throw (14.93 meters / 48' 11.75").
Tyler Hartleroad was fourth in the 800-meter run (1:58.81) and fifth in the 3000-meter run (9:00.19) to lead the team in two events as well. A fourth-place finish was also secured by Alexander Lewis in the shot put. Lewis' best toss was 14.20 (46' 7.25").
Morgan Johnson was fifth in the pole vault, the best finish of Trine student-athletes in the event. He reached a height of 4.05 meters (13' 3.50"). The final individual event of the day was completed by Matthew Rankin with a fifth-place time of 4:36.04 in the mile run.
The 4x400-meter relay team finished second of seven and the distance medley relay squad for the Thunder placed third out of four competing teams.
Up next, Trine will take part in the Steemer Showcase at Wittenberg University on Saturday, January 27.