By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
MARIAN, Ind. - The Bluffton University track team made the trek to Indiana Wesleyan University to compete in the Polar Bear Invitational on Sat, March 23 and saw many great performances!
The meet was highlighted once again by junior vaulter Tori Bowen (Wapakoneta/Elida) who was victorious in the pole vault with a mark of 3.60 meters (11 feet, 9.75 inches), a mark that places her in the 11th spot on the Division III National List early in the outdoor campaign!
Also putting her name on the top 50 in the country was sophomore thrower Stephanie Fox (Pickerington/Central), who's shot put toss of 11.42 meters (37 feet, 5.75 inches) put her 47th in the country, good enough for ninth in a field of several Division II and NAIA athletes.
On the track, the distance crew continued with their solid performances. Sophomore Bailie Barrington (Waynesfield/Waynesfield-Goshen) led the way with a second place mark in the 1500 with a time of 4:59.46. Junior Alexis Cash (Gaines, Mich./Lake Fenton) finished close behind in fourth with a mark of 5:05.18. Both times were good enough to qualify the pair for the HCAC Championships, as well as the Div. III All-Ohio Championships.
Senior Keturah Warlick (East Point, Mich./Clintondale) continued her comeback from injury in the 100-meter dash, running a time of 13.35 seconds, good enough for a sixth-place finish and an automatic qualifier into the All-Ohio Championships.
On the men's side, junior John Jones (Cincinnati/Walnut Hills) led the field events, as he placed ninth in the hammer with a throw of 44.83 meters (147 feet, 1 inch), good enough for an automatic qualifier into the HCAC and All-Ohio Championships.
On the track, freshman Brandon James (Waynesfield/Waynesfield-Goshen) was the highlight, as he qualified for the HCAC and All-Ohio meets in both the 110 and 400 meter hurdles. In the 400, James placed fourth with a time of 58.48 seconds, while he was 10th in the 110 with a time of 16.56 seconds.
The Beavers placed a trio of freshman sprinters in the top half of a field of over 50 runners in the 100-meter dash, led by Daniel Williams (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) in 15th, followed by Dalton Taynor (Troy/Miami East) in 23rd and Christian Parker in 28th place.
On the distance side, junior Connor Gulick (St. Louisville/Utica) led the charge with a 10th place mark in the 1500 with a time of 4:12.47. Gulick added that race to his list of HCAC qualifiers after doing so in the 3000 meter steeple chase last week.
The Beavers are set to return to action on Saturday, March 30, when they travel to Otterbein University for the April Fools Invitational. Field events are set to begin at 10 a.m. with running events set for 10:30 a.m.
-BEAVERS-
