Men’s and women’s track and field teams start season at Trine Open

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Olivet College men's and women's track and field teams kicked off their seasons by competing Friday night at the Trine (Ind.) University Open. Despite the meet being unscored, the Comets turned in several notable performances.

For the women, junior Cassie Ciaravino (Lapeer/East) took first-place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.65 seconds. During the preliminaries, she was two-hundredths faster at 9.63 seconds. Ciaravino also placed first in the long jump. On her last attempt, she went 5.10 meters/16 feet, 8-3/4 inches.

Also in the field events, senior Sara Wegener (Lansing/Lansing Catholic) finished in first-place in the shot put and weight, recording her best throws in both events on her last try. Wegener threw the shot put 11.23 meters/36 feet, 10-1/4 inches and the weight throw 13.31 meters/43 feet, 8 inches.

Senior Jenna Mayle (Ionia) took second-place in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:48.54. Freshman Marissa Guile (Williamston) and senior Rachael Wagner (Clinton Twp./Fraser) tied for second in the high jump, as he cleared the bar at 1.45 meters/4 feet, 9 inches. Olivet's 4x400-meter relay team of Mayle, Wagner, Guile and Ciaravino placed second with a time of 4:27.11.

For the men, junior Greg Lutzke (Williamston) won the 3,000 meter run, crossing the line at 9:07.67. Junior Jalen Weaver (Albion) placed first in the mile run with a time of 4:31.26. Freshman Connor Bauserman (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) went 1:26.92 in the 600-meter run to finish in second-place.

Sophomore Travon Tatum (Battle Creek/Lakeview) had the seventh-fastest time (7.50) in the preliminaries of the 60-meter dash, but dropped seven-hundredths off in the finals (7.43) for a third-place finish. Also in the prelims, freshman Alante Sims (Lansing/Everett) posted the fastest time (7.38) of the six Comets who competed in the event. Olivet's 4x400 meter relay team of sophomore Tyler Britten (Mendon), Bauserman, freshman Blake Wilson (Battle Creek/Lakeview) and Weaver finished second at 3:39.06.

In the field events, the Comets' best performances were turned in by freshmen Terrance Byrd (Albion) and DeQuarius Yore (Battle Creek/Central). Byrd finished in third-place in the long jump (6.03 meters/19 feet, 9-1/2 inches), while Yore was third in the shot put (12.00 meters/39 feet, 4-1/2 inches).

Olivet returns to action next Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcat Invitational. Field events start at noon, followed by running events at 12:30 p.m.