By: Jenia Freewalt, sports information assistant
ADA, Ohio - On Friday, Jan. 19, the Beaver Track and Field team traveled to Ohio Northern University for the 2024 Larry Cole Invitational. With this being the first meet of the season, they were eager to see how they would compete!
Kicking off the meet and the season for the Beavers were the field events! Starting the season off strong was junior Joey Bonham (Vanlue), winning the high jump competition with an impressive jump of 1.89m! Junior Kyle Manns (Ottoville) finished 4th with a leap of 1.86m!
In the men's long jump, Bonham finished 4th with a distance of 6.27m! In 6th place overall was senior Malik Waters (Lima/Perry) with a jump of 6.18m.
The throwers did especially well this weekend! Sophomore Paige Smith (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) set a new PR in the women's weight with a big throw of 10.57 meters. Also setting a new PR was newcomer Andrew Fox (Kenton) with a big throw of 8.58m. Fox set a PR in the shot put as well with a mark of 11.10m. Newcomers Kenny Johnson (Thompson Station, Tenn./Independence) and Antonio Garrett (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Stewart's Creek) also set PR's on the day with marks of 11.28m and 10.45m, respectively.
The running events started about an hour after the start of the field events. Flying around the track in the women's 200 meter dash was junior Kailea Kerr (Manchester, Ind.), earning 3rd place with a quick time of 29.13!
Junior Ja'ce Nutt (Miamisburg/Valley View) set a quick PR in the men's 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.30!
Setting a new PR in a sprint was senior Blayden McCoy (Fresno/Ridgewood) who kicked off his senior season with a time of 23.96 in the 200 meter dash, finishing 9th overall. Junior Russell Lough (Wintersville/Indian Creek) took 3rd place in the 200 with a time of 23.55!
In the women's 3k Race, junior Basil Gates (Galion) finished the race with a new PR time of 11:52 (9th overall).
Junior Braeden Horn (Galion) started off the indoor season right, crossing the line with a new PR in the men's 3k Race with a time of 9:56. Also flying across the line of the 3k and setting a new PR was junior Cole Kropka (New London), finishing with a time of 9:19 in 4th place!
Freshman McKenna Mabry (Ventura, Cal./Buena) broke 6:00 this weekend, setting a collegiate PR in the women's mile race with a time of 5:58 and finishing in 7th place!
In the men's mile, freshman Chandler McCafferty (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) set a PR of 5:09 at his first indoor collegiate meet as well.
Head Cross Country Coach Connor Gulick, who works primarily with the distance athletes, commented on the meet by saying, "I thought we had a really good opener all around. To have as many PR's this early in the season was exciting to see. Everyone put it on the line and fought the entire race. I can't wait to see how the season continues to unfold with this team."
Wrapping up the exciting season opener was the 4x400 relays! The women's 4x4 team, made up of athletes junior Kinsey Myers (Stryker), Mabry, freshman Amelia Adams (Celina), and Kerr crushed the competition, earning 2nd place overall with a time of 4:35.57! Finally, finishing in 3rd place was the men's 4x4 team, made up of McCoy, Lough, senior Simon Shawk (Galion) and Kropka, with a time of 3:37.
"Overall, I think it was a good opening meet," said Bluffton Head Track and Field Coach Ben Markison. "A majority of our team had indoor PRs and those that didn't already hit or are close to their times that they ended indoor with last year. During the coming weeks, I think the results will show all the hard work they have been putting in and I'm excited for what is to come."
After a great season opener, the Beavers returned home for another week of training before traveling to Muskingum University for their next competition on Saturday, Jan. 27.
-BEAVERS-