The No. 9 in the nation AU women’s indoor track and field as well as No. 10 in the nation men’s indoor track and field team took their talents to Indianapolis on Friday Jan. 31 and Saturday Feb. 1 for the Midwest Classic.
Sophomore Molly Winner had an astonishing start to the meet, becoming the first woman in Division II to throw over 20 meters in the women’s weight throw this season, placing third in the event by throwing 20.04 meters.
Senior Lily Dowdell broke her own school record by just over three seconds in the women’s 3000-meter run, running a time of 9:44.93, and earning herself second place in the event. She broke the previous record at the Jud Logan Memorial meet held at Kent State on Jan. 18, with the previous record standing at 9:48.05.
More Eagles earned their provisional marks over the weekend, punching themselves a ticket back to Indianapolis on March 13-15 for the NCAA Division II Championships.
On the women’s side, sophomore Hailey Rios added a new provisional mark in the women’s long jump with a second-place finish, jumping 5.83 meters.
For the men’s team, freshman Carter Smith earned his provisional mark in the men’s pole vault, jumping 4.88 meters and placing fourth in the event. His teammate, senior Wyatt Cory, placed fifth, also jumping 4.88 meters and earning his provisional mark as well.
Junior Nate Slater placed third in the men’s mile with a time of 4:07.85, earning him his first provisional mark of the season.
Along with the other success, the following Eagles placed first in their respective events: junior Daylen Madison in the men’s 800-meter run with a time of 1:52.22 and senior Jacob Pielech not only won the men’s 400-meter dash, running a time of 47.57, but also lowered his provisional mark in the process.
The following Eagles placed second in their respective events: sophomore Justin Richards in the men’s long jump, jumping 7.09 meters and senior D.J. Duncan in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.95, lowering his previous provisional mark.
Finally, the following Eagles placed third in their respective events: graduate student Hope Sievert in the women’s 800-meter run with a time of 2:13.92; the women’s 4×400 meter relay squad of junior Montana Walker, sophomore Brianna Cheveney, junior Jade Avance and senior Mia Gardner with a time of 3:46.77; the men’s 4×400 meter relay squad consisting of sophomore Brian Turner, sophomore Colton Thress, Madison and Pielech, running a time of 3:16.76 and senior Alena Williams in the women’s 60-meter dash with a time of 7.65.
Catch the Eagles in action again for the Fourth Jud Logan Light Giver Open on Friday Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday Feb. 8 at 9:00 a.m. located at the Niss Athletic Center at Ashland University.
