The Hillsdale College men's track and field team criss-crossed the Midwest this weekend, getting big results from its athletes in meets both at Grand Valley State and at Tiffin.
A select group of athletes went to Allendale, Michigan for the two-day GVSU Big Meet, one of the toughest invitationals in the Midwest on the indoor calendar.
Making the trip for the Chargers was Hillsdale's distance crew, led by sophomore Alex Mitchell, who ran a new personal best in the 3,000m run of 8:26.09 to close in on a provisional qualifying time in the event.
Hillsdale also got two personal bests in the mile from sophomore Richie Johnston, who ran a 4:15.04 that's the Chargers' best time in the event indoor this year, and sophomore Ross Kuhn, who was close behind in 4:15.10. Freshman Seth Jankowski was also close to a personal best in the 800m run, finishing in 1:54.65.
The bulk of Hillsdale's squad traveled to Tiffin, Ohio for the Tiffin Open, where Hillsdale also put up impressive finishes.
Leading the way for Hillsdale was thrower Ben Haas, who finished fifth in a loaded weight throw field with a massive personal best distance of 20.16 meters, which moves him into ninth in the NCAA Division II rankings in the event with just two weeks of competition indoors remaining before the national meet field is selected. Haas also took eighth in the shot put with a throw of 15.36 meters.
On the track, freshman Colsen Conway took third in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.60, while sophomore Dagur Einarsson took seventh in the 60m dash (7.06) and Joseph Ritzer took seventh in the 400m dash (53.06).
Hillsdale has one final tune-up at home on Saturday before the all-important G-MAC Championships in Ashland, beginning on February 24, with the NCAA DII Championships to follow two weeks later in Virginia Beach.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan