February 13, 2015
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Beaver thinclads divided their forces this weekend with competition Friday, Feb. 13, at the Defiance College Open. Competition for the Beavers will continue Saturday, Feb. 14, on the campus of Otterbein University at the All-Ohio Championship meet.
Freshman KYLE KNEZOVICH (Utica) had a big evening, advancing to the finals of the 60 meter hurdles in a new PR time, then surpassing that with a 9.03 clocking to win the final among college competitors. Knezovich also placed 3rd in the pole vault competition in a PR performance of 13' 7.25" before ending his evening with a solid split to anchor the men's 4 x 400 meter relay. Sophomore high jumper BLAKE DREWES (Archbold) returned to form with a 6' 2" clearance and 2nd place finish coming off a lengthy layoff from competition, just in time for next week's HCAC Conference Championship.
Freshman ALISSA HAUKE (Hillsboro) had a breakthrough evening, running a PR and conference qualifying time in the mile only to return to the track an hour later to run a PR over 800 meters. Fellow freshman CHRISTOPHER TATOM (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) also had a fast night, running PR's of his own in both the mile and 800 as did sophomore PATRICK BREAN (Ashland) over both distances. Also joining the PR list were junior HANNAH KRULL (Lewisburg/Tri-County North) in the 60 meter dash, freshman CHRISTOPHER BRENNER (Defiance) in the final of the 60 meter hurdles, freshman ELAINA ALPETER (Galloway/Hilliard Bradley) in the mile, freshman BRANDON LOWERY (Perrysburg) in long jump, and junior ALEX PARKER (Alger/Upper Scioto Valley) in the shot put. Returning to form, senior JEFF PARKER (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) achieved a season-best performance in the shot put.
"Tonight's meet was a final tuneup for most of our athletes before we compete in the conference championship meet next weekend," said Head Coach, Karen Brandt. The distance runners worked on their speed in shorter distances than they will run at HCAC while the sprinters, jumpers, hurdlers and throwers got a last opportunity to work on technique. We have a group of athletes competing tomorrow who qualified for the All-Ohio Championship who did not participate tonight and we will look for additional PR performances, hopefully school records and possibly a win at an event or two."
The Beavers will see their first action tomorrow at the All-Ohio Championship at noon in men's long jump, shot put and pole vault while their first track event will be the 60 meter hurdle preliminary round at 2:25 p.m.
-BEAVERS-