Sports

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

The HU indoor track and field program brought home two pieces of hardware from the 2024 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships this past weekend.

Thirteen Foresters made the trip to the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex with junior Erica Xayarath earning HU’s first All-American designation in long jump on Thursday. The Fort Wayne native outjumped her No. 6 seeding to finish fifth with a mark of 5.63 meters.

Brooklyn Simmons also made her nationals debut in long jump by finishing 13th with a leap of 5.42 meters. The pair also competed in triple jump where Xayarath took 18th (11.39 meters) and Simmons finished 25th (11.06 meters).

Josey Reineman represented Huntington in jumps as well by going 1.60 meters in high jump for 11th place.

Seeded 8th heading into the meet, the Forester foursome of Emily Tedder (1200 meters), Trysta Hilton (400 meters), Mackenzie Brewer (800 meters) and Malarie Pinwar (1600 meters) teamed up to take fifth in the distance medley relay in 12:02.27, shaving 11 seconds off their qualifying time.

Tedder also ran the 1000 meters where she claimed 11th in 2:58.42 which proved a new PR. Pinwar took 13th in the mile by clocking in at 5:05.98.

On the men’s side, Zach Collins sprinted his way to 12th place in the 400 meters in 48.15 and 16th place in the 200 meters in 21.56 (which tied his HU record).

Reece Gibson, in his final indoor meet, took 19th in the 3000 meters in 8:45.06. Austin Liepe and Kent Yoder toed the line of the 5000 meters where they finished 20th (15:01.80) and 22nd (15:02.96) respectively.

The Foresters now turn their attention to the outdoor season with the first meet slated for March 22-23 at IWU for the Polar Bear Invite.

ALL-AMERICAN RECAP
Erica Xayarath –
5th in Long Jump (5.63 meters)
DMR – 5th in 12:02.27 (Emily Tedder, Trysta Hilton, Mackenzie Brewer, Malarie Pinwar)

HU WOMEN’S FULL RESULTS
1000m
– Emily Tedder (11th, 2:58.42)
Mile – Malarie Pinwar (13th, 5:05.98)
DMR – Emily Tedder, Trysta Hilton, Mackenzie Brewer, Malarie Pinwar (5th, 12:02.27)
High Jump – Josey Reineman (11th, 1.60 meters); Erica Xayarath (NH)
Long Jump – Erica Xayarath (5th, 5.63 meters); Brooklyn Simmons (13th, 5.42 meters)
Triple Jump – Erica Xayarath (18th, 11.39 meters); Brooklyn Simmons (25th, 11.06 meters)

HU MEN’S FULL RESULTS
200m
– Zach Collins (16th, 21.56)
400m – Zach Collins (12th, 48.15)
3000m – Reece Gibson (19th, 8:45.06)
5000m – Austin Liepe (20th, 15:01.80); Kent Yoder (22nd, 15:02.96)