Track & Field finds success at Dick Small Invitational
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College track and field teams had a strong showing on Friday evening against Anderson University and Earlham College at the George M. Smart Center in the Dick Small Invitational. Three Yellow Jackets won events on the day and many others finished second or third.
"We were really happy with the effort of the team today. This year more than any other year I think how hard we compete is more important than the times," said Defiance head coach Nathan Christianson. "I know as a team we get much better each week. Fitness continues to grow and so does our confidence."
For the second week in a row, Lisa Markau was victorious in the 60-meter dash, clocking a time 8.45 seconds. Deleita Powell (9.07) and Destiny Oshodin (9.13) each set new personal bests in the event and placed third and fourth respectively. Markau also placed second in the 200-meters and teamed up with Powell, Oshodin, and Shi'nique Lawrence to run a very competitive 4x200 relay, finishing just a few seconds off first place. Katelyn Smith
"Lisa had another good 60. Katelyn Smith had a huge drop in her 800-meter time. She hasn't raced competitively for a few years so a big-time drop in the 800 was great to see. We are expecting big things from her at the conference championship, remarked Christianson. "Our ladies continue to grow in fitness and confidence. I believe they will put it together at the conference championship. Each day you continue to see things each lady gets better at."
The Defiance men's team also found success in the 60-meters with Robert Marshall (7.11), Ja'Qway Janvier (7.15), and Gabriel Melvin (7.17) placing second, third and fourth. Marshall's time is a new personal best and ties Quenell Rutledge (2017) for the fourth-fastest time in program history.
"It's very impressive to have three guys under 7.20, and I also believe Carlens Elisias will soon be able to mix it up with Qway, Gabe, and Robert. We have some of the best 60 and 200 men in the conference. Each week we have met some great competition and this week was no different. Sheldan from Earlham had a spectacular race and it's always great to see competition like that to see where you match up in the conference. We just have to train harder in the next two weeks." Christianson added.
John Edwards and John Reese each won a nail-biting race for the Yellow Jackets, outpacing their opponents by less than a second. Edwards edged out his victory in the 400-meters 0.7 seconds while Reese finished nearly half-a-second ahead of the runner-up in the 800-meters.
"John had a very competitive 800 and was happy with the way he raced. It's extremely difficult to lead wire to wire" said Christianson.
The men's 4x400 relay team also had an impressive outing. The team of Connor Bujalski, Elisias, Marshall, and Janvier came from behind to overtake the Earlham squad for second place with a time of 3:59.33.
Janvier and Elisias also had a good day in the long jump, placing second and fourth with marks of 5.80m and 5.01m. Also with strong showings in the field events were Ron Scott, who recorded personal bests in the shot put (10.78m) and weight throw (7.74m), and Reese and Lawrence, who recorded marks of 1.75m and 1.35m in the high jump.
Both Defiance squads will return to action next week when they host the John Hartpence Invitational on Friday, February 12 at 4 pm in the George M. Smart Center.
