The Hillsdale Chargers men’s track and field team found success in its first two meets of the 2023 season. 

After a week of training, the team hosted G-MAC rivals Ashland University and University of Findlay on Jan. 14, and then sent five athletes to Saginaw Valley State University for the Doug Hansen Open on Jan. 20. 

Hillsdale took home two event victories during the first meet. Sophomore Maliq Brock took first place in the 400 meter dash with a 51.59 second run, and junior Alex Mitchell — who also runs for the men’s cross country team — took first place with a 8:55.42 finish in the 3000 meter run.

“Saturday’s race felt like a good benchmark to start the season with,” Brock said. “I’m excited to see where I go from here.”

Freshman Seth Jankowski also competed in the 400 meter dash, finishing in third place with a time of 52:49. 

Mitchell was not the only distance runner with good times at the meet. Sophomore cross country and track athletes Richie Johnston and Ross Kuhn finished second and third respectively in the mile race. Johnston hit the 4:26.69 mark, and Kuhn the 4:26.82 mark. 

The Charger jump squad had a successful first meet as well. Sophomore and 2022 G-MAC high jump champion Cass Dobrowolski took second place in the high jump with a 1.98 meter clearance. Senior Charlie Andrews — who also competed in the high jump — finished fourth overall with a 1.88 meter clearance. 

“I’m happy to be competing again for one last season,” Andrews said. “I still have a lot left in the tank and I’m excited to compete one more time.”

Hillsdale had two team members finish in the top three in the 400 meter hurdles. Freshman Colsen Conway finished with a time of 56.95, which was good enough for second place overall. Freshman Connor McCormick took third place with a 59.74 finish.

Hillsdale only had one thrower competing on the field for the meet. Sophomore Ben Haas set a personal best in the shot put event at 15.85 meters, earning second place. Haas also took third in the weight throw event with a distance of 17.39 meters.

“I’ve had a lot of great aspects of my performance these past weeks,” Haas said. “I just need to bring everything together going forward.”

Haas continued his strong season at the Doug Hansen Open by taking first place in the weight throw with a NCAA DII provisional mark of 18.59 meters, and taking third in the shot put with a 15.58 meter throw. 

The Chargers had four other athletes compete at SVSU, which was a small replacement for the canceled Hillsdale Winter Classic. Senior Sean Hoeft finished the 800 meter run with a time of 1:56.59, which was good enough for second place, while Johnston ran a personal best 8:37.05 in the 3000 meter race. 

Other athletes competing in the meet at SVSU were senior Benu Meintjes, who finished the 400 meter dash with a time of 48.98, earning him second place in the meet, and senior Dagur Einarsson finished fourth in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.07. 

The Chargers will host the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic for their next meet on Jan. 28, and will then head to Ashland University for a meet on Feb. 3.