ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University track and field program had a baker's dozen honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as All-Great Lakes Region student-athletes. In addition assistant coach Seth Ware was honored as the region's Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Ware, in his third year with the Thunder, coached the program's sprinters, hurdlers and javelin throwers to 109 of Trine's 241 points that won the MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships team title.
His top pupil was sophomore Jake Gladieux (Oregon, Ohio / Whitmer), an all-region selection himself who qualified for both the 400m and 110m hurdles events at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships as a top-ten seed. Gladieux nabbed all-region status in both events as well.
In addition to Gladieux seven other members of the men's program received the honor. Seniors Jack Beakas (Auburn, Ind. / DeKalb) in the 10,000m, Levi Neuzerling (Noblesville, Ind. / Noblesville) in the 1500m and Neil O'Brien (Whiteland, Ind. / Roncalli) in the 3000m Steeplecase all earned the honor while also qualifying for the championships.
Also earning all-region honors as an individual was sophomore Ben Williams (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Harrison) who was selected for his performance in the long jump where he finished 68th nationally with a 6.93m attempt.
Williams also received honors as a member of the men's 4x100 Relay. The Thunder posted a season-best of 41.68 finishing 25th in the nation. Joining Williams on the team were senior Jacob Root (Vicksburg, Mich. / Vicksburg), junior Josh Davis (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Sterling Heights) and sophomore William Thonn (Rochester, Ind. / Rochester).
On the women's side, five student-athletes came home with all-region honors. Junior Valerie Obear () became the most decorated Thunder of the season, earning honors in three events including the Hammer, the Discus and Shot Put. She qualified for nationals seventh in the Hammer with a throw of 53.69m. She would finish 42nd in Discus with a 41.47m throw and 56th in Shot Put with a throw of 12.49m.
Senior Evie Bultemeyer (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) was also honored in multiple events including the 800m and 1500m Races. She qualified for nationals in the 1500m Race as the sixth seed after posting a qualifying time of 4:32.35. In the 800m, she would finish the season 45th nationally with a time of 2:15.91.
Senior Elizabeth Lohman (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Caroll) was named all-region in 3000m Steeplechase while also qualifying for nationals as the 15th seed with a time of 11:00.15 during the season.
Senior Megan Theismann (Ossian, Ind. / Norwell) earned her spot on the list with a season-best 17:25.13 time in the 5,000m Race. She finished the season 23rd in the nation.
The reigning MIAA Most Valuable Field athlete, Freshman Haley Livingston (Fort Worth, Texas / Everman) was the final all-region selection for the Thunder. Her season-best jump of 5.50m in the Long Jump was 51st in the nation earning her the honor.
The Thunder qualified seven student-athletes for the national championships, the first of whom will begin competition today, Thursday, May 27.
