Sophomore Colby Clark improved on his personal record in the 400-meter dash from last weekend, and hit the provisional time with a 47.80 time, placing 13th.
“This is the first time I’ve run two 47-points in an open race back-to-back— I’m pretty sure I only did that once last year so I’m definitely in a better spot. My goal is to run a 47-low,” Clark said. “I think it’s due to maturity and the fact that the people I train with every day are among the best in the conference — best in the nation. Having those guys there to push me for two years now takes my training to a whole other level.”
Junior Caleb Gatchell hit the time he has been waiting for in the 1500-meter. Placing fourth with a personal-best time of 3:49.50, Gatchell earned a provisional spot on the list for nationals.
In his first 3000-meter steeplechase of the season, junior Joe Newcomb improved his personal record, broke the 37-year-old Hillsdale record, and hit the provisional time for nationals, running 8:58.80 and placing second overall. Newcomb is currently ranked sixth in the nation in the event.
“I wanted to break nine— that was my goal. I knew it was right around nine when I crossed the finish line so I was just waiting for like two minutes to see my time,” Newcomb said. “I’m pretty excited to get to go to nationals for the first time in an individual event.”
The 4×100 relay placed second against tough competition which pushed them to run a provisional time of 40.83 seconds and break the school record again. The relay was run by junior Todd Frickey, sophomore Lane White, Clark, and senior Alex Mexicotte.
Sophomore Jared Schipper placed fifth in the pole vault with a jump of 16 feet, 6.75 inches. Schipper has hit the provisional standard for the vault twice in the past two weeks. After breaking the school record last week at the Border Battle, he is still ranked fourth in the nation.
In the hammer throw, sophomore Daniel Capek placed third throwing 193 feet, 3 inches. This met the provisional standard, but Capek is ranked 12th nationally based on his first throw of the season — 194 feet.
“I’m pretty excited to go to nationals again — I went in 2013,” Capek said. “It’s been four weeks in a row that I’ve thrown under my PR, and I’m just waiting for improvement. I hope that at nationals it’ll push me and I make it to the All-American stand.”
With the GLIAC conference meet just a few weeks away, head coach Andrew Towne tries to focus his athletes on securing spots at the national championship meet beforehand in order to focus on scoring points at GLIACs.
“We’re in a good spot but we’re pretty close to being in a great spot,” Towne said.
Each year Hillsdale’s representation at the national championship meet grows stronger and louder as the program grows and the athletes gain experience. Towne would like to have more men on the list for nationals at this point but he anticipates more improvement and provisional marks in the upcoming weeks.
Hillsdale will host the annual Gina Relays at Frank “Muddy” Waters Stadium today through Saturday.
