INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

The Huntington indoor track & field program had a full weekend of competition at two different meets to break four school records, hit six A standards and a B standard and register a multitude of PRs.

The Foresters had a strong showing at Indiana Tech’s Strive for Greatness Invitational on Saturday at the Turnstone Center.

In her debut as a Forester, Erica Xayarath had a sensational day. She established a new PR in long jump with her winning leap of 5.85 meters to claim a spot at nationals and break the school record. As the defending national champion in high jump, she posted a mark of 1.71 meters to win the meet, collect another A standard and set another HU record.

Xayarath earned a third A standard in triple jump by finishing second at the meet and third in the HU history books with her mark of 11.62 meters. As a warm-up to long jump, she ran in the 60 meter prelims where she clocked in with a 7.94 good for the second fastest time in program history.

The Fort Wayne native currently ranks #1 in the NAIA in long jump and high jump.

Destiny Copeland also had a record-breaking outing in her first appearance in Forester green and white. Her winning leap of 12.43 meters in triple jump was not only an A standard and currently the best in the NAIA but made history on multiple levels as  a new PR, HU record and facility record.

Copeland also claimed an A standard in long jump. Her mark of 5.66 meters was good for third place but more importantly proved the second farthest leap in program history. She wrapped up the day by setting  the Huntington record in the 200 meters in 25.85 which earned her second at the meet.

Hannah Johnson also secured a spot in the HU record books in the 60 meters with her time of 8.20. Sydni Ausberry ran a PR of 27.26 in the 200 meters which moves her up a spot to seventh in the Forester history books. Brielle Fehlmann ran a 1:06.73 in the 400 meters for a new PR. Other Foresters to set new PRs included Evelyn Sigler in the 800 meters (2:59.97) and Morgann Hart in the 800 meters (3:00.95) and Shaylynn Reyes in the mile (6:05.49).

On the men’s side, Chandler Minnich registered a new PR in pole vault with his mark of 4.45 meters, the second best vault in program history and third place at the meet.  Keegan Angel ran to a second place finish in the 600 meters in 1:34.08.

A handful of athletes spent Friday at the Grand Valley State University Holiday Open. Addy Wiley was one of the highlights of the Michigan trip. Competing among a loaded field of DI, DII, DIII and NAIA athletes, the freshman sensation won the 3K in 9:24.28 which not only proved an A standard but is the second fasted 3K time in HU history. Her time is currently tops in the NAIA by over 30 seconds.

Addy Mays also punched her ticket to NAIA Nationals with a B standard by running an 8-second PR in the mile. Her time of 5:09.53 was good for an 11th place finish among athletes from all levels and moves her from eighth to seventh in the Huntington record books.

Aanyah Wright also had a personal best with her fourth place heave of 14.83 meters in weight throw to improve her HU #2 all-time ranking. On the men’s side, Matthew Hyter ran a PR of 8:52.09 in the 3K.

“This was a great weekend for our program,” said Coach Austin Roark. “We got to see many PRs, multiple school records broken, NAIA standards, and just overall showed what our program is capable of. Our men and women are starting to gain confidence and understand what the standard should be and is for HU track and field.

“It was an incredible weekend by our women’s team across all events. I’m excited to get some rest through the break and pick up steam after the new year as we push this program to new standards and expectations.”

The Forester are off until January 14 when they compete in the Sean Brady Alumni Open at Trine University.