By: Connor Gulick, Head Cross Country Coach
The Beavers took I-75 straight down to HCAC Newcomer Berea College for the HCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the team came out ready to run.
The mens team took 5th place and were just seven points away from 4th. Leading the charge for the Beavers was Senior Desmond Gist (Detroit, Mich./Trenton) who brought one two gold medals: one in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.56 and also in the long jump with a leap of 6.88 meters. He also earned a silver medal in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.86 and a bronze medal in the 100 with a time of 10.93. Gist shared Most Outstanding Male Jumps Co-Athletes of the Year with Markeius Hill of Transylvania
Junior Coen North (Denver/North) also brought home gold for the first time in his career in the Javelin with a toss of 57.27.
Senior Russell Lough (Wintersville/Indian Creek) also had a busy weekend, taking silver in the 400 meter dash with a season-best time of 48.89 as well as scoring in the 200 with a time of 22.39 making Bluffton just one of two schools to have two people score in the event. Lough and Gist then teamed up with freshmen Jalen Jackson (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway) and Devin Homan (Dayton/Stebbins), taking 4th in the 4x100 with a time of 43.12 as well as bronze in the 4x400 with a time of 3:23.71 out of the slow heat.
Other point contributors to the men's team score were Senior Kyle Manns (Ottoville) who took 5th in the high jump and senior Ja'ce Nutt (Miamisburg/Valley View) who took 7th place in the 110 hurdles. Other PR performances included Jackson in the 100 with a time of 11.39 and freshmen Jase Bailey (Orlando, Fla.) in the 200 with a time of 25.08.
"This was a fun weekend for sure," said Distance Coach Connor Gulick, "Everyone came into this weekend locked in and saw a lot of hardware come home with us as well as a lot of other gutsy and PR performances."
The women's team took home 8th place. Leading the charge on the women's side was sophomore Amelia Adams (Celina) who took second in the pole vault with a PR of 2.92 meters and just missed first based off of tie breakers. Adams also scored points in the high jump, claiming a 4th place as well. Senior Basil Gates (Galion) ran a smart race in the 10k, taking second in the event with a time of 41:09 while just edging out third in the process.
Other point contributors in the meet was freshman Sara Smith (Mansfield/Madison Comprehensive) who took 7th in the 1500 with a time of 5:10.57 and 8th in the 5k with a time of 19:23.83. The 4x100 meter relay of senior Kinsey Myers (Stryker), Adams, freshman Darbie Dillon (Mt.Gilead), and senior Kailea Kerr (Manchester, Ind.) were also able to secure points with a 7th place finish in a time of 53.84. Junior Paige Smith (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) was able come out of the weekend with a new PR of 34.76 meters in the hammer throw and she just missed finals.
"As we finish out our season, I want to say I'm extremely proud of our men and women. They put everything on the line at conference. There were a lot of PRs, medals and more. Thank you to them all for an amazing season. Thank you to all our coaches for all the work they put in with each athlete. We all were a complete family. Thank you all for an amazing season. Thank you parents and fans for being here with us through the rain, snow and sunshine days," said Head Coach Chris Scott about how he felt the weekend and the season went overall.
This concludes the regular season for the Beavers, but a select group of athletes will have a few more opportunities to compete as they try to punch their ticket to nationals, beginning Thursday, May 8, at Baldwin Wallace.
-BEAVERS-
