February 22, 2014
ANDERSON, Ind. - It was another record-setting day for the Bluffton University men's and women's track and field team as they traveled to Anderson University for the HCAC Conference Indoor Championship meet on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Setting the bar high for the rest of the team, literally, freshman TERRILL WEBB (Kenton) emerged as the conference champion in the women's pole vault, clearing 10' 3", re-setting her school record in the process. Action heated up on the track with the men's distance medley relay. The squad of freshman JACK FISHER (Norwalk/St. Paul) in the 1200, freshman TY WHITE(Orrville) in the 400, senior MARTIN RUSS (Rocky River) in the 800 and sophomore JOSH EDENS (Westerville/Central) anchoring in the 1600 erased another four seconds from their previous school record, clocking 10:34.62 to finish 2nd to the blistering anchor leg of Manchester University's MICHAEL STOCKER. Fisher returned to the track later in the meet in the open 800 where he nearly ran down Defiance standout TROY PARRETT to finish 2nd in 1:57.39, rewriting the school record that had stood since 2006.
In the throws events, freshman JACOB MORAN (Carey) and sophomore EDGAR GONZALEZ (Melvindale, Mich.) had big days. Moran entered the meet with a best put of 45' 8" but added nearly two feet to that distance with a 47' 6.5" distance that placed him 4th in a field of 29 men. Gonzalez, who entered the competition ranked 8th, put the ball out another three feet over his previous best, finishing 5th with a distance of 46' 5". Impressively, Gonzalez returned to competition in the 35-pound weight throw later in the meet as the 10th seed but added another 2.5 feet to his throw to finish 6th in a field of 22 competitors. In the women's shot put, sophomore MARCEA WEST-ESTELL (Toledo/Notre Dame) had a stellar day, entering the meet with the 9th best put (33' 6") but ending her day with a PR performance of 35' 3.5" to place 6th in a field of 19 women.
Freshman WHITNEY WARNECKE (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) had a good day, scoring points for the women's team in three events. Jumping a season best in the long jump, 15' 7.25", she placed 5th in a field of 14; anchored the PR 5th place 4 x 200 meter relay team that included senior KAYLA MULLENHOUR (Delphos/Jefferson), sophomore HANNAH KRULL(Lewisburg/Tri-County North) and freshman KIM PERRY (West Alexandria/Twin Valley South); as well as placed 8th in the high jump. Freshman Ty White had a busy day as well, opening his day with the DMR, running anchor on both the 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 meter relays, and placing 8th in the open 200 meters. The men's 4 x 200 team that included freshman JOEL JACOBSON (Franklin/Carlisle), CAMERON HUSS(Antwerp) and BLAKE DREWES (Archbold) along with White, ran yet another PR time to place 5th while the 4 x 400 squad of White, Huss, Russ and Fisher placed 4th.
Also scoring points for the team were freshman TYLER DAVIS(Houston), 8th in men's pole vault; junior JEFF PARKER (Bristol, Ind./Northridge), 7th in men's long jump; Perry, 8th in women's 400 meters; Russ, 8th in men's 800 meters and sophomore NICHOLE PETERMAN(Killbuck/West Holmes), 6th in the women's 800; as well as two women's relays: the 4 x 400 team of Mullenhour, Krull, Perry and Peterman who placed 6th and the DMR quartet of freshman KATI O'NEILL (Wapakoneta), Krull, freshman MIRANDA HOSTETLER (Glenmont/West Holmes) and sophomore TARA MURPHY (Westerville/Thomas Worthington) who placed 5th. While not placing in a points position, Mullenhour ran a PR time in the 60 meter dash, Warnecke posted her fastest time in the 200 as did freshman Kati O'Neill and SETH CLARK (Houston) over the 3000 meter distance. Jeff Parker's 46' 2.25" weight throw was also a personal best.
"I am so proud of the wide variety of events in which we scored points this weekend at the championship," said Head Coach Karen Brandt. "It is a testament to the hard work that has gone on the past two and a half years in recruiting athletes and assembling a quality coaching staff as well as to the dedication and commitment of the athletes. During our meeting with the team prior to competition, a theme emerged among the coaches' comments. 'Compete' was the constant refrain as we urged the athletes to remember that every point counts and digging down for one more ounce of effort would get them the result they wanted and the team needed. Their enthusiasm was infectious as they celebrated each other's successes and consoled those who didn't achieve their goals. I urge my athletes to win and lose with equal grace and they lived up to that standard splendidly."
With the close of the indoor season, the Beavers will continue their training as they prepare for the outdoor campaign which opens March 21-22 in Lexington, Va., at the Washington and Lee Track & Field Carnival.
-BEAVERS-