Sports Information Staff Report
May 7, 2004

A few of Bluffton's track and field athletes traveled to Bloomington, IN on Friday, for the Billy Hayes Invitational, hosted by Indiana University.  Pole vaulter Clint Dillon highlighted Bluffton's performances by placing eighth in an elite vault field, improving his national qualifying mark and school record to 15' 11".  That clearance moves Dillon into the top ten nationally.

Other Bluffton athletes to compete in the meet were Shandon North, Johnny Ichrist, and Dave Espinoza.  North placed fourth in his heat, and 33rd overall, in the 400 meters with a time of 51.83.  Ichrist, meanwhile, competed in both the 1500 and 800 meters.  He finished 40th overall in the 800 meters (2:04.81) and 18th in the 1500 meters (4:26.86).  Espinoza finished 20th in the 1500 meters with his time of 4:30.32. 

The meet featured a large number of Division 1 teams, including schools such as Indiana, Purdue, Ball State, Western Michigan, Louisville, Cincinnati, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, and Miami.  A number of national qualifying marks were set in the meet for all divisions, along with some qualifying marks for this summer's Olympic trials.

The Beavers will next have athletes in action this coming Thursday and Friday, when they travel to North Central College in Naperville, IL, for the Dr. Keeler Invitational.  The meet traditionally hosts a large number of the top Division 3 track schools in the nation.