The Hillsdale College Chargers kicked off their season today at Grand Valley State University for the Holiday Open. They finished sixth out of 13 mostly Division I and Division II teams.
Freshman Charlie Andrews made his collegiate debut while getting things started at today's meet for Hillsdale. He took ninth while clearing 1.81 meters. Senior Ryan Thomsen competed in high jump as well, starting his season the best he ever has by clearing 2.01 meters to earn a three-way tie for second.
Thomsen also competed in long jump along with sophomore John Baldwin. Baldwin's mark of 6.80 meters earned him fourth, while Thomsen leapt 6.73 meters to take fifth.
Freshman Josh Nichols competed in both long and triple jump. He took 10th in long jump with a mark of 6.31 meters and seventh in triple jump in 13.06 meters.
In the weight throw, Steve Weideman threw for 15.07 meters to take eighth.
On the track, sophomore Jacob Schmidt ran the 60m and 200m dashes. In the 60, he took 12th in 7.10 and 13th in the 200 in 22.81, which is the fastest he's opened up his season.
Senior Ian Brown earned a personal best in the 60m hurdles of 8.49 seconds to take seventh and ran near his PR in the 200 to take 21st in 23.12.
Baldwin ran a lifetime best and tied the school record of 9.22 seconds in the 60m hurdles, which earned him first place in the event.
In the 400m dash, freshman Benu Meintjes ran 50.10 seconds to take fourth.
Hillsdale blue filled much of the mid-distance races, as three freshmen ran the 600m run and two more freshmen, and junior Adam Wade ran the 800m.
In the 600, Sean Hoeft took fifth in 1:25.05. His teammates Dylan Palmer and Isaac Waffle took seventh and eighth, respectively. Palmer came in at 1:27.14 and Waffle in 1:28.27. Wade led the way in the 800 to take 13th in 1:57.01. Freshman Ian Calvert came in 19th in 2:00.89 and freshman Joseph Ritzer came in 28th in 2:10.01.
Baldwin, Meintjes, Wade, and Calevert teammed up to run in the 4x400 meter relay. They finished in 3:22.04 to take fourth place.
The Chargers will return early from Christmas break to compete on Jan. 11 at the University of Findlay.
WORDS: Calli Townsend
PHOTO: Todd Lancaster