Ashland University’s Indoor Track and Field Team took their talents to two different meets the weekend of Feb. 14. One squad attended the GVSU Big Meet at Grand Valley State University in Michigan on Feb. 14. While the other squad travelled to Kent State for the Doug Raymond National Qualifier Invitational on Feb. 14 through Feb.15.  

Breaking school records is becoming familiar territory for senior Lily Dowdell. At GVSU, she broke her third school record in the women’s 5000-meter run with a time of 16:27.78, placing third in the event. She broke the previous school record by more than a minute. She also earned her provisional mark for the 2025 NCAA Division II Championships, March 13-15 in Indianapolis. The previous record was held by Delainey Phelps who ran the record at the GVSU Big Meet in 2015, when she ran a time of 17:31.87.  

Joining Dowdell in earning new provisional marks at GVSU, graduate student Hope Sievert earned hers in the women’s 800-meter run with a time of 2:10.47.  

At Kent State, the Indoor Track and Field coaches once again did not shy away from the competition. Head Coach A.G. Kruger won the men’s weight throw on night one of the invite, throwing 19.94 meters. On the second day of the Doug Raymond Invite, assistant coach DaJuan Seward won the men’s triple jump, jumping 15.44 meters.  

Similar to their coaches, the following Eagles placed first in their respective events: junior Abby Wheeler in the women’s high jump, jumping 1.65 meters; sophomore Leslie Pollock in the women’s weight throw, throwing 19.00 meters; fifth-year Doniven Jackson in the men’s 200-meter dash with a time of 21.78 seconds; junior Garret Baker in the men’s pole vault, vaulting 5.30 meters; junior Jade Avance in the women’s 400-meter dash with a time of 56.02 and senior Jacob Pielech in the men’s 400-meter dash with a time of 48.08. 

The following Eagles placed second in their respective events: sophomore Brianna Cheveney in the women’s 400-meter dash with a time of 56.15; sophomore Molly Winner in the women’s shot put, throwing 14.61 meters as well as the women’s weight throw, throwing 18.84 meters; the women’s 4×400-meter relay squad consisting of junior Montana Walker, Cheveney, Avance, and senior Mia Gardner with a time of 3:51.99 and the men’s 4×400-meter relay squad consisting of seniors Colin Hunkele and Noah Wood, sophomore Brian Turner, and Pielech. 

The following Eagles placed third in their respective events: Hunkele in the men’s 400-meter dash with a time of 48.51; fifth year Aniya Seward in the women’s triple jump, jumping 11.47 meters; junior Isiah King in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.19; Cheveney in the women’s 200-meter dash with a time of 24.32; Pielech in the men’s 200-meter dash with a time of 21.93 and the men’s 4×400-meter relay squad consisting of sophomores Gavin Mullen, Ethan Browning and Matthew Noel as well as senior Wyatt Corey, running a time of 3:39.26.  

The Eagles return to action on Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. at the Niss Athletic Center for the Ashland University Last Chance meet.