Jackets Take Top Spot at Home Meet on Bingley’s Three First’s

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Junior multi-event athlete Kim Bingley racked up an outstanding performance on Friday, March 29 that guided the Purple and Gold to first place at the 18th Annual Dick Small Invitational. She finished first in three events, while placing second in one other.

This was only the third meet of the year for the Ottawa, Ohio, native, as she did not join the track and field team until after she had concluded her commitment to the DC women's basketball team at the end of February. Bingley recorded individual first-place finishes in the 400-meter hurdles (1:10.33) and javelin (31.07 meters), along with coming in second in the shot put (11.27m). The third-year track member also garnered first as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that crossed the finish line in a time 4:19.66.

Joining Bingley on the relay squad was senior Katie Heitkamp, junior Kali George and sophomore Brooke Lime. Each of the three members also did not disappoint on the day, as the trio combined for one first-place finish and four in second.

Heitkamp, a Memorial High product, was the lone member of the three to score first, as she cleared a height of 2.80 meters in the pole vault. George came away with the number two placing in the 100-meter dash (13.70) and javelin (30.51m). Then in the 100 and 400-meter hurdles, Lime finished second with times of 17.11 and 1:11.30, respectively. Bingley was the only competitor at the invite to best George in the javelin and Lime in the 400 hurdles.

In the mid and long distance events, the Purple and Gold scored quality points with top marks from its runners. Senior Alisha Kazlausky, sophomores Sadie Daeger and Marissa Bussard and freshman Brittney Holmes came in first for the 4x800 event with a time of 11:58.49. Daeger also notched a second-place finish with a time of 13:54.75 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Her time was bested only by fellow runner Ericha Greip, who took the top spot in 13:23.49.

Others finishing with second-place marks at the invitational were senior Kate Borer in the pole vault (2.65 meters), junior Nikki Young in the hammer throw (34.90m) and freshman Waverly Weaks in the triple jump (9.69m).

Defiance College recorded 216 points at the invitational to top all other competitors. Coming in second at the podium were the Adrian Bulldogs with 183. The Olivet College Comets then followed in third with 120 points.

In the DC's next meet, it will travel up to Michigan for the Adrian Invitational on Saturday, April 6. Action will begin early at 10 a.m.