Men’s and women’s track/field teams open MIAA schedule with wins against Adrian and Tri-State

The Olivet College men's and women's track/field teams opened the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) portion of their schedules today with wins against Adrian College and Tri-State (Ind.) University at the Lenawee Christian School in Adrian. The men beat Adrian, 101-55, and Tri-State, 100.5-52.5. The women defeated Adrian and Tri-State by default due to both schools having less than the required 12 student-athletes competing in the meet.

The men's team had seven student-athletes each win an event. Dante Carroll (Capital Heights, Md./Fairmont Hts.) took first in the 400-meter dash (:52.67). Joe Cleveland (St. Joseph) won the long jump (19'8.75"). Bobby Horton (Charlotte) was first in the shot put (46'5.50'). He was also the runner-up in the discus throw (124'9") and javelin throw (126'10").

Also winning were Darrick Parker (Bangor), pole vault (13'6"); Blake Walters (Olivet), javelin throw (127'11"); DeShaun Warren (Detroit/Denby), 100-meter dash (:11.45); and John Zenner (Kingsley), triple jump (37'8"). Thomas Ray (Constantine) finished second in the 3,000-meter run (9:41.00) and 5,000-meter run (17:12.80).

The women's team won 12-of-17 events. Jami Acker (Escanaba) was only double winner as she took first in the 100-meter dash (:12.91) and 200-meter dash (:29.11). She also ran a leg of the winning 4x100- and 4x400-meter relays. Joining her on the 4x100 relay were Donna Cripe (Vermontville/Maple Valley), Kelsey Gordon (Vandalia/Cassopolis) and Amy Johnson (Gaylord) with a time of :55.05. The 4x400 meter relay team of Acker, Gordon, Johnson and Mackenzie Heator (Union City) clocked-in at 4:42.99.

Other winners on the track included Johnson, 400-meter run (1:05.42); Tami Cahow (Climax/Climax-Scotts), 400-meter hurdles (1:17.15); and Tonia Flanagan (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), 100-meter low hurdles (:19.23). Winning field events were Gordon, high jump (4'6"); Heator, long jump (14'8.50"); Katie Hartwick (Dundee/Ida), triple jump (20'7"); Bridget Holtz (Union/Constantine), pole vault (8'0"); and Courtney Ivan (Belleville), javelin throw (107'2"). Flanagan was second in the shot put (31'3.25"), discus (95'2") and javelin (86'2").

Olivet is back in action Saturday, March 31, when it participates in the annual Goshen (Ind.) College Invitational. Events are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Eigsti Track & Field Complex.