By: Connor Gulick, Head Cross Country Coach
The Bluffton University Track and Field Team traveled down Interstate 75 to Cincinnati for the MSJ February Invite hosted by fellow HCAC member Mount St. Joseph on Saturday, Feb. 15.
The men's team took 3rd overall out of nine teams with the highlight of the day coming in the 4x200 as the team of freshmen Jalen Jackson (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway) and Devin Homan (Dayton/Stebbins), along with seniors Russell Lough (Wintersville/Indian Creek) and Desmond Gist (Detroit, Mich./Trenton) took home the win with a time of 1:31.51, which also broke the school record and places them 1st in the HCAC. The same group also came back to end the day in the 4x400, getting the win with a time of 3:34.13. Gist dominated in the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.31 and the 200 with a time of 23.21, while Lough also brought home a win in the 400 with a time of 51.26.
Other PR and season-best performances in the sprints group included senior Ja'Ce Nutt (Miamisburg/Valley View) who continues to drop time in the 60 dash en route to a 7.65 after coming off a season best in the 60 hurdles and just moments before running 9.26 which has him 6th in the conference. Freshman Hassan Greene (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Snyder) ran a new best in the 400 with a time of 57.12, while freshman Jase Bailey also made strides, running a 59.05 in the event. Freshman Keith Dailey (Moody, Texas/Moody) in the 200 with a time of 26.21.
In the jumps group, senior Joey Bonham (Vanlue) improved on his high jump from a week ago, taking 3rd with a leap of 1.90m which puts him 2nd in the HCAC as well as jumping 6.11m in long jump hitting the conference qualifier. Both Greene and Dailey also improved in long jump as well, jumping within just a centimeter of each other to the tune of 5.37 and 5.36, respectively.
"Thank you to all coaches, athletes and fans that have been supporting us this indoor season. With so many personal records and even a school record being broken, it shows the heart and dedication we all have together. Proud of everyone," said Head Coach Chris Scott on how the team is looking just two weeks out from the conference championship.
On the distance side, freshman Malcolm Hudson (Villa Rica, Ga./Villa Rica) made his debut in the mile with a time of 5.29.28
On the women's side, the Beavers took 5th as a team, led by sophomore Amelia Adams (Celina) who continued her strong season in the jumps as she took 3rd in high jump which matched her best with a jump of 1.50m. She also took 6th in her pole vault season debut with a jump of 2.60m which places her 5th in the HCAC
The rest of the sprints had a strong day as well as freshman Darbie Dillon (Mt.Gilead) had a double PR day in the 60 where she ran 8.74, taking 4th in the event on the day and then came back with a PR time of 30.25 in the 200m. Senior Kinsey Myers (Stryker) also had a double season best in the 400 with a time of 1:09.27 and 200 with a time of 30.63.
On the distance side, the freshmen duo of Sara Smith (Mansfield/Madison Comprehensive) and Kamryn McDonald (Marion/Harding) both had strong day in both PR'd the mile with times of 5:43.93 and 6:25.85 respectively. The duo then came back strong in the 800 later in the day and ran 2:40.98 and 2:56.55 respectively. Senior Basil Gates (Galion) ran 20:25.02 in the 5k which ranks 11th in the HCAC this season.
"I thought the squad really showed out and had a lot of breakthrough performances. I think today is going to give the team a lot of confidence going into conference in a few weeks," said Distance Coach Connor Gulick on how he felt the day went for the team.
The Beavers make the short trip up to the University of Findlay on Friday, Feb. 21, for the Flag City Tune-Up in the last regular season meet before the HCAC Championships on Saturday, March 1.
-BEAVERS-