By: Ben Hershberger, sports information intern
March 27, 2007
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Bluffton University track and field team traveled to Defiance College to compete in the Dick Small Invite on Saturday, March 24, 2007. The Beavers men's squad competed strong all day as they took 9th place overall, out of 15 teams. However, it was the men's and women's teams of Bethel College that dominated the 20 events on the day with the men's team powering its way to a 1st place finish, while the women placed 2nd following a close race for 1st place with Cornerstone University.
Senior SHANDON NORTH (Galion/Galion) showed his prowess in the 400 meter dash, placing 1st with a blistering time of 49.10 seconds. North also anchored the Beaver's 4x400 meter relay team which collectively posted a time of 3:32.67. Joining him were teammates TYLER FAIRCHILD (Toledo/Whitmer), JOHNNY ICHRIST (Toledo/Whitmer), and COLLIN WAGNER(Pettisville/Pettisville).
Freshman JASON FISHER (Rockford/Parkway) continued his solid performance in the throwing events with three finishes in the top ten. Fisher placed 2nd in the men's discus with a hurl of 41.77 meters. He also placed 7th in the hammer throw, posting a distance of 42.84 meters, and 9th place in the shot put with a thrust of 13.09 meters.
Junior REX BROWN (Wauseon/Pettisville) showed his skill once again in the javelin with a launch of 51.27 meters to claim 2nd place in the event for the Beavers. Also finishing well in the field events for the Beavers was senior RUSTIN PICKETT (Urbana/Urbana) who placed 8th in the long jump with a leap of 5.74 meters.
Junior TYLER FAIRCHILD (Toledo/Whitmer) rounded out the top ten finishes for the Beavers on the day. Fairchild ran a strong race in the 800 meters to post a time of 2:03.28 which was good enough for 5th place.
For the women, sophomore KARYN DAVIS (Liberty Center/Liberty Center) led the way for the Beavers with another solid performance in the throwing events. Davis placed 3rd in a large field of competitors during the shot put event with a throw of 10.42 meters, and then went on to finish 6th in the hammer throw, posting a distance of 29.35 meters.
Junior SARAH HUMPHREY (Upper Sandusky/Upper Sandusky) was the lone runner to place in the top ten and score for the women's team in the running events as she took 2nd in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 40:22.30, which was more than two minutes ahead of 3rd place.
ASHLEY SMITH (Delta/Delta) rounded out the top performances on the day for the women with her leap of 4.57 meters in the long jump competition to take 3rd place.
The Bluffton track and field team will host the Beaver Invitational this Saturday, March 31, 2007. The meet is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
-BEAVERS-