February 4, 2012
By: Jordan Hill, sports information assistant
ADA, Ohio - The Bluffton men's and women's track and field team competed in the Joe Banks Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, hosted by Ohio Northern University. The Beavers continue to make headway as they break and re-set school records and personal bests.
Senior standout thrower MEGAN NEAL (Arlington) led the field events as she improved her own school record in the weight throw with a toss of 49-01.50 feet. Her mark also set a new meet record. On the track, junior MADDIE MOORE (Linn Grove, Ind./South Adams) set a new school record in the 1,000 meter run with a time of 3:20.60. Sophomore BRANDI DOMINIQUE(Wauseon) also bettered her own school record in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:28.06.
Several athletes set new personal records. Freshman JENNA STRAUSS(Bridgewater/Bridgewater) had a trio of personal bests. In the long jump, she jumped 14-2 feet, ran 9.19 seconds in the 60-meter dash, and 32.21 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Freshman JEFF PARKER ( Bristol, Ind./Northridge ) threw a pair of lifetime bests in the weight throw (37-8.5 feet) and in the shot put (42-9.5 feet). Neal had a lifetime best in the shot put with a toss of 35-2 feet, which is also an HCAC championship meet qualifier. On the track, junior ALISON JANZEN ( Whitewater, Kan./Remington ) set new personal records in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 3:27.49 and the one-mile with a time of 5:56.43. Junior MACKENZIE MAYER ( Versailless ) also set a new personal best in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 3:52.45.
Junior CHRIS ARNOLD ( Fort Wayne, Ind./Canterbury) ran a lifetime best in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10:28.61. KAYLA MULLENHOUR (Delphos/Jefferson) ran a lifetime best in the 500-meter run with a time of 1:29.12. Freshman ERIC DAMERON (Galion) ran a lifetime best in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.85. Freshman JOSH MATTOON ( Rawson/Cory-Rawson ) set a personal record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.93. Freshman JORDAN WEGNER ( Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka ) had a pair of personal bests in the 500-meter run (1:29.83) and the 200-meter dash (30.55).
A number of the Bluffton University track and field athletes hope to compete in the All-Ohio Championships, hosted by Otterbein University, on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Only the top 16 in each individual event and top 12 relays in the state are invited to compete as the field will be announced on Tuesday. The rest of the Beavers will travel to Ohio Wesleyan University to compete on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012.
-BEAVERS-