The Chargers took advantage of sunny spring weather and their home turf at last Saturday’s Hillsdale Invitational, in what was the first outdoor meet of the season for many of the athletes. The meet was successful for the Chargers, with a number of athletes achieving personal bests and provisional marks, qualifying them for the national meet in May.
Junior Corinne Zehner had a full day winning the 100 hurdles, the 400 hurdles, and participating in the 4×400 meter relay. Her blistering 14.02 second 100 hurdle time was a personal best and national qualifying time, while her 400 hurdle time was her second best time ever, also a national qualifying time. After the meet Zehner was named GLIAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week for the third time this year.
On the men’s side, senior Maurice Jones ran an electric 53.33 second 400 hurdle time, just edging out second place by .01 seconds. Senior Alex Mexicotte won the 200 meter dash in 22.33 seconds. Both qualified for the national meet.
The Chargers also had a good day in the 400 meter dash. On the women’s side, sophomore Allison Duber won with a time of 56.77 seconds, with Jessica Hurley and Emily Guy also breaking the one minute mark.
“It was a little tough because at the start in the first 200 meters, the wind was strong and I didn’t feel that great, but I took off the last 200,” Duber said.
Freshman Lane White also won the 400 meter dash in a speedy 47.63 seconds and freshman Colby Clark finished in second place.
Freshman David Chase won the high jump with a height of 2.01 meters.
Sophomore Alex Whitford tied for second in the pole vault with a jump of 3.46 meters. Freshman Jared Schipper won the pole vault for the Charger men, jumping a height of 5.05 meters and breaking his own school record. Teammate junior Matt Harris, tied for second.
“It was awesome, I love doing it,” Schipper said.
Senior Heather Lantis threw a personal best in the javelin by over six meters, with her best throw going 33.41 meters. Sophomore Dana Newell threw personal best distances in both the shot put and hammer throw. Her distance of 50.11 meters in the hammer throw is close to the provisional qualifying mark.
Freshman Amanda Reagle won the steeplechase with a personal best time of 11:29.
Freshmen Sam Phillips and Tony Wondaal placed second and third in the steeplechase respectively, coming in at 9:46 and 9:51. Senior Kevin Frost was not far behind in fifth.
“Provo is 9:22, school record is 9:00, and auto is 8:52, so while this was a good race, those are my goals,” Phillips said.
Sophomore Molly Oren won the 5K in 17:28, with teammate senior Chelsea Kilgore coming in third in 17:50.
“We got out of it what we wanted, so I was happy with it,” said assistant track coach Joe Lynn.
Saturday’s meet was the first of four home meets the Chargers will be hosting in five weeks. Home meets are important for the track team because all eligible athletes get to compete, when only the team’s “travel squad” would compete otherwise. Head track coach Andrew Towne called the development of non-traveling athletes a “necessary part” of the track program.
“At this point in the year you have to begin to take steps forward — we’re essentially in championship season now,” Towne said. “And we got some kids that don’t get a chance to compete as often, get a chance to compete and I thought they did well taking advantage of that opportunity.”
Not all of the distance and middle distance runners competed in Saturday’s meet. Many of these top athletes rested before travelling to the Mount Sac Invitational in California next weekend.
Many of the top sprinters will be going to the Louisiana State University Alumni Gold meet in Baton Rouge next weekend. Those remaining on the travel squad not going to either Mt. Sac or LSU will go to the Al Owens Invite at Grand Valley State University.
“I’m happy with how we’re doing right now, and it should be a good next three weeks,” Towne said.
