DC Posts Strong Performances at Home Finale

DEFIANCE, OHIO -- The Defiance College track and field team saw their share of solid performances in Friday night's Dick Small Invitational at the George M. Smart Center.

The field was slightly smaller than planned, as only four teams competed in the meet with weather and travel concerns keeping a pair of teams away.

The highlight on the men's side came, once again, from the throwers as they took took the top three collegiate spots in the men's weight throw. Junior Javier Castillo (Nogales, Ariz.) led the charge, finishing third overall but finishing as the top collegiate athlete in the meet. Castillo threw a career-best 15.71 meters (51 feet, 6.5 inches). Junior James Baranoski Jr. finished second out of collegiates in the field with an all-time best throw of 14.69 meters (48 feet, 2.5 inches) to move into the eighth spot on DC's all-time performance list. He was followed by junior Andrew Fahler (Wellington), who placed third with a best toss of 14.63 meters (48 feet). Junior Justin Bergquist (Cincinnati/Northwest) also snuck into the tenth spot overall with a throw of 12.73 meters (41 feet, 9.25 inches).

DC alum Tom Postema grabbed the overall victory with a toss of 21.01 meters (68 feet, 11.25 inches) in the event.

The Yellow Jacket throwers also grabbed three top 10 finishes in the shot put, led by Castillo, who started his day with a fourth plalce finish, throwing a top toss of 13.46 meters (44 feet, 2 inches). Senior Joshua Petro (Ocala, Fla./The Villages) prepared for his All-Ohio performance on Saturday with a sixth place finish in the shot put on Friday, his best toss being 13.29 meters (43 feet, 7.25 inches). Rounding out the top 10 in the weight throw was Baranoski Jr., who's throw of 12.35 meters (40 feet, 6.25 inches) was good enough for a tenth place finish.

Freshman Vince Jackson (Mason) finished in the second spot in the high jump competition with a best jump of 1.91 meters (6 feet, 3.25 inches) as he prepares to jump again on Saturday at the All-Ohio Championship.

The top performance on the track for the Yellow Jackets came from freshman Cody Drumm-Turner (Homer, Mich.). Drumm-Turner's preliminary time of 7.23 seconds was not only good enough for the fourth-best time entering the final, but was also good enough to move into sixth on DC's all-time performance list. His time in the final was 7.29 seconds, also good enough for fourth place.

Defiance also earned a victory in the men's 400-meter dash, as unior Brandon Zartman (Paulding/Wayne Trace) finished at the top of the six-man field with a time of 55.92 seconds. 

Staying in the sprints, freshman Gabriel Caris (Lambertville, Mich./Bedford) finished in the seventh spot of a 17-person field in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.39 seconds.

Several members of the Defiance College track team will have a quick turnaround, as they will travel to Otterbein University for the All-Ohio Championships for their final tuneup before the HCAC Championships. The meet is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.