ANGOLA, Ind. – At the Mrs. G Alumni Invitational, the Trine University men's track and field team was in action at home for the first time in the 2023-24 season inside the Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic and Recreation Center (ARC). In 15 events on the men's side, the Thunder were victorious in seven of them.
The winning started in the shortest race of the event, the 60-meter dash. Greysen Spohn ran a 6.97-second time in the event finals to claim first place, with Maxwell Harris in second at 7.02 seconds. There were two other 1-2 finishes for Trine, including the high jump and long jump. Ethan Spahr won both of those field events at 1.95 meters (6' 4.75") in the high jump and 6.57 meters (21' 6.75") in the long jump. Spohn was second in the high jump (1.92 meters / 6' 3.50") and Zion Jackson second in the long jump (6.52 meters / 21' 4.75"). Jackson also secured a win for the team in the 60-meter hurdle finals at 8.66 seconds. Spohn was also a team-best second in the 200-meter dash (22.55 seconds).
Kimball Hughes was a winner in his throws event, the shot put. Hughes had a best toss of 15.03 meters (49' 3.75") to nab the top prize. Tyler Hartleroad was victorious in his race, the 800-meter run, with a time of 2:00.17. Last but not least, Ryan Hoopingarner was the leader of the pack in the 3000-meter run with a time of 8:58.19.
Along with numerous event wins, the Thunder also had three second-place finishes that were the best marks for the team. Max Van Huis was position two in the mile run at 4:26.66. Both relay teams were also second overall. The 4x400-meter squad of Aaron Pike, Blane Johnson, Jacob Batten and Owen Sulecki finished with a time of 3:39.75 and the distance medley relay team of Hartleroad, Ryan Smith, Philip Nemechek and Drew Sillaway were runners up at 10:23.40. Smith was fourth in the 400-meter dash as well to pace the team (52.55 seconds).
Other top scorers for the Thunder came in field events. Dillon Dennison was third in the weight throw at 15.65 meters (51' 4.25") to round out podium finishes. Andrew Cogswell was fifth in the triple jump at 11.27 meters (36' 11.75") and in the pole vault, Nathan Leap was fifth by reaching a height of 4.05 meters (13' 3.50").
Athletes will take part in the Crimson & Gold Invitational at Oberlin College on Friday, February 9 for their next event.