By: Connor Gulick, Head Cross Country Coach
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University Track and Field Team made the trek over to Manchester University for the Manchester University Invitational on a cold and wet Saturday, April 8.
Kicking off the day with a bang was junior Coen North (Denver, Col./North) who took home a win in the men's javelin by 10 meters with a massive PR of 56.15 meters. This marks put him 6th all-time in HCAC history and currently ranks has him ranked 37th in the nation. Freshman Daniel Crutcher (Memphis, Tenn./St. Georges Independent) also saw an outdoor-best throw with a mark of 10.16m in shot put
Other event victors on the day were seniors Desmond Gist (Detroit, Mich./Trenton) who took home the win in the 110 hurdles, running 14.56 which places him 11th in the nation, and Russell Lough (Wintersville/Indian Creek) who took home the win in the 400 meters with a time of 50.60. Other season-best performances from the sprints group were freshmen Jace Bailey (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) who ran a time of 25.33 in the 200 meters.
On the jumps Side, senior Joey Bonham (Vanlue) took 2nd in high jump, matching his season best with 1.90 meters and he also took 4th in triple jump with a season-best leap of 12.88 meters.
On the distance Side, sophomore Micah Dodson (Wooster/Central Christian) improved his time from last week, running 5:02.63 in the 1500m and junior Jarrod Roudebush (Coshocton) stepped down, taking on the 400 and running a new PR of 56.73.
"I think this was a great step forward for us as a team," said Distance Coach Connor Gulick, "While the times might not be where some would have wanted them to be, I saw a lot more confidence and people not afraid to take a chance and compete."
On the women's side, sophomore Amelia Adams (Celina) had two top 5 finishes in pole vault and high jump, clearing 2.60 meters in the vault and 1.45 meters in high jump.
In the sprints, senior Kailea Kerr (Manchester, Ind.) shaved more time off of her 100-meter time, clocking in a 13.88. Senior Kinsey Myers (Stryker) also saw a season best in the 200-meter, running a new season best of 29.65.
On the throws side, Junior Ella Meyers (Kalida) continues to make progress, hitting a new best of 7.18m in the shot put. Junior Paige Smith (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) also took home a new season best in the shot-put, throwing 9.30 meters.
On the distance side, senior Sammie Unger (Kenton) took a big step forward, shaving 13 seconds from a week ago with her time of 6:08.44.
Head Coach Chris Scott had this to say about how he felt about his squad's performance, "This meet helped show where we are as a team. With the weather not in our favor, we still came to compete. With a few top finishes and personal records, we are super proud of them!"
-BEAVERS-