OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

Despite rain midway through the meet, the Forester track and field program hit three “A” standards and set two new school records Saturday afternoon at their own invite, the Huntington Invitational.

One of the day’s most memorable races was the men’s 1500 meters where Elijah Chesterman set a new HU record by nearly six seconds with a winning effort of 3:51.58. His time is currently the second fastest time in the NAIA this spring.

The next four to cross the line were all Foresters with Haile Stutzman clocking in next at 3:53.10 good for second only to Chesterman in the HU record books. Adrien Gentie finished 3rd in 3:57.14 while Richmond Stoltzfus (3:58.97), running unattached, and Reece Gibson (3:59.96) taking 4th and 5th respectively.

Chesterman and Stutzman’s times were both “A” standards.

The 800 meters was also a Forester-dominated race with Dylan Felger taking 2nd in 1:57.71 and Josiah Sovine nabbing 3rd in 1:58.60. The next three spots were also claimed by HU which included Stoltzfus (unattached, 2:00.21), Gibson (2:00.81) and Aaron Hendryx (2:00.96).

Noah Bise was a double winner for Childs’ crew having won long jump (7.11m) and triple jump (13.81m). Caleb Smith (1.76m) and Blake Cooke (1.66m) took 1st and 2nd in high jump. Cameron Worsham was also a winner for HU in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.03.

Other top five finishes for Huntington included Seth Parsell in discus (3rd, 38.77m) and hammer (4th, 40.49m), Heath Atkins in long jump (3rd, 6.46m) and 100 meters (3rd, 11.34), Bradey Gerke in pole vault (4th, 4.30m), Kyler Bourne in pole vault (5th, 4.30m), Riley Meek in the 400 meters (2nd, 50.93) and the 4×100 meter relay team (Robert Nabulere, Josh Whitney, Nick Wilford, Graham Johnson) (2nd, 45.07).

The women’s 1500 meters was an impressive race for HU with Emma Wilson, paced by Coach Lauren Davenport Johnson, running away with the win in 4:24.66 for a new school record and the fastest time in the NAIA this season. Aspen Dirr, who had already hit the “B” standard, hit the “A” mark with her second-place time of 4:37.05 which bumps her into third in the Huntington record books.

Hannah Wappes clocked in at 4:46.94 to claim 3rd and make her way into the Forester record books for logging the seventh fastest time. Saige Norris ran to a 5th place finish in 4:58.77.

In the 800 meters, Dirr topped the field in 2:16.88 with Foresters rounding the next four spots as well. Sydney Lambert finished 2nd in 2:19.99. Wappes was next in 2:21.01 while Jessica Chojnacki (2:22.16) and Olivia Von Gunten (2:22.49) ran to a 4th and 5th place finish respectively.

Jessi Gerke topped the field in pole vault with a mark of 2.45 meters. Huntington finished 1st and 2nd in the 4×400 meter relay with the team of Chojnacki, Von Gunten, Wappes and Lambert claiming the win in 4:13.74 and the other HU squad made up of Ashley Berndl, Dirr, Shaylynn Reyes and Caitlyn Fisher finishing next in 4:21.45.

Other top five performances included Mia Ostopovich in the 100 meters (2nd, 12.70), Amarachi Charles-Okezie in long jump (3rd, 4.97m), Fisher in long jump (5th, 4.75m), Aanyah Wright in discus (2nd, 33.88m) and Berndl in the 400 meters (5th, 1:03.54).

The Foresters are back at it next week to compete in Lancer Invitational hosted by Grace.