Facing off against some of the best athletes, not just in the Midwest, but in the country in Ashland and Findlay at Friday's home meet, the Hillsdale College men's track and field team put up several notable performances.
In particular, Hillsdale's large freshman class made its mark in the meet, with several newcomers posting top finishes to help the Chargers hold their own.
Freshman Micah Vanderkooi took second in just the second 800 meter race of his career, and his time of 1:56.53 shaved more than a second off his first time from a month and a half earlier at the Tiffin Challenge.
Another freshman, Justin Doughty, finished second in his first career 400m hurdles race as well for the Chargers, in 1:05.38, and two freshmen, Jamahl Burke and Sean Fagan, teamed with sophomore Benu Meintjes and senior Adam Wade to help Hillsdale take runner-up honors in the 4x400m relay in 3:22.07.
Fagan also took fourth in the 60m hurdles for the Chargers on Friday, in 8.35, just behind senior Ian Brown, who ran unattached in the race and finished third (8.28).
In the field events, sophomore Joshua Nichols had a solid day for Hillsdale, taking runner-up honors in the triple jump with a mark of 12.80 meters, and also finishing fourth in the long jump with a distance of 6.27 meters.
The Chargers also had two solid races in the distance events. Sophomore Isaac Waffle took fourth in the mile in 4:27.90, a new career best in the race, while junior Adam Weir also finished fourth in the 3,000m run (9:10.35).
Hillsdale will be back in action a week from Friday, traveling to Allendale and Grand Valley State University for the Bill Clinger Invitational on Friday, Jan. 29.
Photo by Gwen Buchhop.