In the last chances for the Hillsdale College men's track and field team to impress before the NCAA DII Outdoor Championship field is announced, the Chargers had a strong weekend, with five athletes posting a personal best in events at Oakland University and Baldwin-Wallace University.
Hillsdale had a couple of big moments at the Harrison Dillard Twilight Classic on Friday, hosted by Baldwin-Wallace. Freshman Ben Haas got a critical personal best in the hammer throw, finishing second with a mark of 59.69 meters. That finish moves his NCAA DII provisional mark in the event up to 21st in the nation at the NCAA DII level, firmly on the bubble for inclusion in the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships field, and giving him a shot to make the trip. Haas also placed sixth in the shot put with a throw of 16.65 meters.
The Chargers also had a strong showing in the 3,000m steeplechase. Sophomore Richie Johnston took fourth in a time of 9:05.89, and is also on the bubble to make it to Pueblo, Colorado for the national meet, while his teammate, junior Alex Mitchell, placed sixth in 9:10.87, a personal best time in the event and a provisional qualifying mark that currently ranks 35th in the nation at the NCAA DII level.
Junior Sean Hoeft also ran a personal best for the Chargers in the 800m dash, finishing ninth in a time of 1:52.87.
Junior Sean Fagan had a strong two days in the 400m hurdles for the Chargers, earning runner-up honors at Oakland on Thursday in a time of 53.20, and placing third in the same event at the Harrison Dillard Twilight on Friday in a time of 53.63. Teammate Colsen Conway, a freshman, also took third for the Chargers in the 400m hurdles at Oakland in a time of 54.90.
Two Hillsdale athletes also posted personal bests in the field at Oakland on Thursday. Junior Charlie Andrews cleared two meters for the first time in the high jump to place fifth in the event, and freshman Connor McCormick took seventh in the pole vault with a personal best clearance of 4.77 meters.
Hillsdale now awaits the announcement of the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships field on Tuesday to see which athletes will be headed to Pueblo, Colorado on May 25 for the three-day meet. Stay tuned to hillsdalechargers.com for more information as it becomes available.
Photo by David Beach