By: Connor Gulick, Head Cross Country Coach
The Beavers made the short trek over to Ada for the Mike Becraft Invitational hosted by Ohio Northern on Saturday, April 19, 2025. While the day may have started wet and dreary, that didn't stop the Beavers from lighting up the track.
Jumps kick-started the day and senior Joey Bonham (Vanlue) set the tone, clearing 1.91 meters which won the event and was a new best on the season. He then came back later in the day and nailed a huge leap in the triple jump, hitting a new PR of 13.48 meters. This mark puts him 2nd in the conference and 3rd all-time in school history.
On the sprints side, senior Desmond Gist (Detroit, Mich./Trenton) had a busy day, but executed he extremely well, winning both the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.59 seconds and the 400 hurdles in his season debut in the event with a new PR of 55.73. This mark puts him 4th all-time in school history. Fellow senior Russell Lough (Wintersville/Indian Creek) was not to be outdone by his sprinting mate, running PR's in both the 100 meter dash, with a time of 11.17 seconds which shaved .25 seconds from his time as well as the 200 with a time of 22.14 seconds. The time in the 200 puts him 4th in the conference.
On the distance side, senior Braeden Horn (Galion) and sophomore Micah Dodson (Wooster/Central Christian) ran season-best raced in the 1500 with a times of 4:34.25 and 4:55.79 respectively. Junior Jarrod Roudebush (Coshocton) had a big day in the 800, running a lifetime best of 2:06.55
On the throws side, junior Coen North (Denver, Col./North) took home a win in the men's javelin with a toss of 56.14 meters. Senior Bowden Jerome (Canal Winchester) also had a big day as he continues to improve his marks, hitting another 3-meter PR with a toss of 34.12 in the hammer throw.
"I thought this was the exact type of day we had been waiting for as coaches," Distance Coach Connor Gulick said. "We had the day start off strong and everyone built and fed off of one another and just saw one PR after another."
On the women's side, senior Kinsey Myers (Stryker) claimed victory in the 400 with a time of 1:07.60. Senior Kailea Kerr (Manchester, Ind.) also had a strong day, running a season best in the 100 and coming back in the 200 later on in the day, running 28.44.
On the distance side, freshmen Sara Smith (Mansfield/Madison Comprehensive) ran a massive PR in the 1500, shaving 12 seconds off her time by running 5:03.65 which puts her 5th all-time in school history.
On the throws side, junior Ella Meyer (Kalida) continues to improve, throwing another PR of 7.74 meters in the shot put.
"For our final meet leading into our conference, everyone came with an extra drive to focus in. We established some great personal records to set us up for conference. Couldn't be more proud of the final meet," Said Head Coach Chris Scott on how the team performed in the HCAC tuneup.
The Beavers will get ready to head down south next Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, as they travel to Berea College for the HCAC Outdoor Championships.
-BEAVERS-
