Bluffton's KAYLA PICKERING (Jamestown/Greenview) got the Beavers off to a quick start in the first event of the day. Pickering finished third in the women's shot put, with a throw of 34-09.50, which was also good for six points. In the pole vault, GRACE NEEDLER (Columbus Grove) took second place, reaching a height of 8-06.00. BRITANY WAIDELICH (Archbold/Pettisville) placed fifth in the long jump with a distance of 14-08.00.

 

Both ALLISON TRENT (Orrville/Smithville) and MEGAN NEAL (Arlington) scored points for Bluffton in the javelin throw. Trent finished fifth with a throw of 62-02 feet and Neal followed right behind in sixth place, with a throw of 55-11 feet. Bluffton also had two women place in the women's high jump. KOURTNEY LEWIS (Arlington/Riverdale) was involved in a three-way tie for second place in the event, with a height of 4-11.00. ASHLEY SMITH (Delta/Pike-Delta-York) placed in a two-way tie for seventh with a height of 4-05.00.

 

In the women's hammer, KARYN DAVIS (Liberty Center) took three points along with sixth place as she had a throw of 107-00. Finishing just behind Davis was Kayla Pickering, throwing a distance of 106-00, to put her in seventh place. Karyn Davis also had a strong performance in the discus, placing third with a throw of 92-05. Bluffton's Allison Trent also finished eighth in the same event, earning one point.

 

Bluffton's 4x100 team placed fourth, combining for a time of 54.87. The team was made up of KATY WISBY (Lancaster/Bloom Carroll), Kourtney Lewis, DONELLE PARKER (Painsville/Thomas W. Harvey) and Grace Needler. HEATHER SMITH (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) ran a time of 5:26.89 in the women's 500 meter run, which was good for sixth place. In the 400 meter dash, Ashley Smith finished with a time of 1:02.70, which was good for fifth place. Ashley Smith also took second place in the 200 meter dash with a time of 28.06.

 

The 4x400 relay team, consisting of SARAH BINKLEY (Bluffton/Cory-Rawson), Heather Smith, DEB DAVIS (Seneca, Penn./Christian Life Academy) and Grace Needler placed fourth with a time of 4:58.48.

 

On the men's side, JASON FISHER (Rockford/Parkway) had a throw of 47-08.00 in the shot put, placing second. ROBERT JOHNSON (Columbus/Marion Franklin) had a long jump of 20-05.00, which placed him in fourth overall. MICHAEL TIMPE (Swanton) represented Bluffton in the triple jump, coming in fourth place and picking up six points with a jump of 35-02.00.

 

Jason Fisher also placed in two other throw events. Fisher took second place in the hammer, with a throw measuring 164-10. He also found success in the discus, finishing with a throw of 138-06, which was good for second. In both the hammer throw and the discus, Fisher finished second behind a Cedarville Alumnus who participated in the events, so Fisher captured 10 points and was the top collegiate athlete in both events.

 

In the men's 3000 meter steeplechase, Bluffton's ANDREW CHAFFEE (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) put in a time of 11:04.53 which was good for third place and six points. Bluffton's 4x100 meter relay team finished in third place with a time of 45.49. The participants included BRANDON KINDELL (Kenton), Michael Timpe, KEVIN HICKMAN (Centerburg) and Robert Johnson.

 

BEN ALTHAUS placed fifth in the men's 400 meter dash, running a time of 53.23. Brandon Kindell picked up two points for Bluffton in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.87. Robert Johnson placed fourth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.09. BEN SIEBERT (Celina), Andrew Chaffee, Kevin Hickman and Brandon Kindell combined to make up Bluffton's 4x400 meter relay team. The team took fourth with a time of 3:54.20.

 

Bluffton will next be in action on April 4, 2009, when the Beavers travel to Ohio Wesleyan for the Marv Frye Invitational.