Marissa Hagler Jumping a Hurdle on Feb. 4, 2023

Kodiak Creative

Track and Field Sets Sights on Titan Open

First event scheduled for 10:45 a.m.

2/9/2023 3:30:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - After an impressive showing for the Illinois Wesleyan University's men's and women's track and field teams last weekend, the program is now gearing up for the Titan Open, Saturday, Feb. 11. The meet, which will take place inside of the Shirk Center, is set to begin at 10:45 a.m. with the men's shot put and women's weight throw.

In the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) conference TFRI rankings, released Monday, Feb. 6, the men's team was ranked second with 314.47 points, behind North Central College. The women's team checked in fourth place (246 points), behind North Central, Elmhurst University, and Carthage College.

The Titan Open will feature talent across the Division II, Division III, and NAIA levels. The other Division III institutions that are set to compete Knox College, Eureka College, Elmhurst University, Fontbonne University, Coe College, and Millikin University.

The Green and White last competed in the annual, two-day, Keck III Invitational, Feb. 3-4. At the meet, seven individuals either entered the all-time top-10 list, or upped their ranking on the list, and one relay team now sits inside the top-10.

In his first-ever 60 meter dash competition, sophomore Alex Harvey (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg) holds down the eighth-fastest time in school history (7.20). Senior Christian Gatsos (Brookfield, Ill.-Lyons Township) entered the top-10 list with a personal-best mark of 4.55 meters, which now sits at fifth-best in IWU history.

IWU saw a pair student-athletes enter the heptathlon record books, while senior Davis Nguy (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) upped his standing. Nguy, who was third on the list, is now second with his impressive point total of 4230. Freshman Ashtin Elder (Chenoa, Ill.-Prairie Central) and junior Joshua Klein (Glen Carbon, Ill.-Edwardsville) earned the seventh and eighth positions inside the all-time top-10 with 3051 and 2900 points, respectively.

Senior Drew Tatlock (North Pekin, Ill.-Pekin Community), who was previously tied for fifth in IWU history, is now sitting alone in fifth as he posted a season-best high jump mark of 1.95 meters. Freshman Zach Daniel (Lake Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) ran a 4:21.66 mile this past weekend, which moved Daniel from ninth all-time, to sixth all-time.

Finally, the 4x400 relay team of junior Kade Murray (Watseka, Ill.-Watseka), freshman Evan Lowder (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community), freshman Seth Hamerski (Mount Vernon, Ill.-Webber), and Harvey's time of 3:25.89 now stands as the 10th-fastest time in school history.

At the Keck last weekend, for the women, junior Amanda Wilson (Minooka, Ill.-Minooka) won the 5000 meter race with a time of 19:34.66, one minute and 25 seconds faster than the next finisher.

Junior Lauren Wong (Morton, Ill.-Morton) earned second in the triple jump (10.98 meters), while freshman Jordynn Griffin (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) secured third in the 400 meter race (1:01.80).

In the College Conference of Illinois Wesleyan rankings, for the men, senior Keondre Schumacher (Bloomington, Ill.-University High) is in third in the 60 meter dash with his time of 6.98. Freshman Bobby Mogged (Piper City, Ill.-Tri-Point) currently sits in third with his mark of 8.61 in the 60 meter hurdles. Both marks were earned at the Titan First Chance, Dec. 10.

Tatlock is in a three-way tie for first in the high jump event (1.95 meters) and Gatsos is .05 meters clear of the top mark in the pole vault (4.55 meters). The 4x400 meter relay squad of Murray, Lowder, Hamerski, and Harvey own the second-fastest time in the CCIW (3:25.89). Freshman Jahari Scott's (Lake Bluff, Ill.-Lake Forest) mark of 6.74 meters in the long jump is good for the second-longest in the conference. Nguy's point total of 4230 in the heptathlon puts him in third in the conference standings. All of the marks were claimed at the Keck DIII Select, Feb. 4.

On the women's side, freshman Adriana Crabtree (Normal, Ill.-University High) checks in at second with her mile time of 5:16.47. Wilson's 5000 meter finish (19:34.66), is also good for second in the CCIW. The 4x400 relay team featuring Griffin, junior Avery Smith (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville North), junior Jules Grunloh (Towanda, Ill.-Lexington), and junior Lexi Ward (Downs, Ill.-Tri-Valley) owns the third-fastest time (4:13.14). All three times were earned at the Keck DIII Select, Feb. 4.

Sophomore Evelyn Wilson (Geneseo, Ill.-Geneseo) sits in a tie for third in the high jump event (1.55 meters). The mark was earned at the Titan First Chance, Dec. 10.

Wong (11.20 meters) and sophomore Franchesca Smith (Chicago, Ill.-Bloomington) (10.52 meters) hold down the second and third positions in the triple jump, respectively. Wong's distance was earned at the Titan First Chance, Dec. 10, while Smith's was earned at the Keck DII Select, Feb. 4.

In the NCAA Division III standings, for the men, Tatlock is tied for 42nd in the high jump (1.95 meters), Gatsos is tied for 48th in the pole vault (4.55 meters), and Nguy is tied for 50th in the heptathlon (4254 points).

For the women, Wong currently sits 39th in the nation with her triple jump distance of 11.20 meters.

Live results for the meet can be found here, while the meet information, that includes the order of events, can be accessed by clicking here.

Results from the meet will be posted to IWUsports.com upon the conclusion of the meet.

To stay up-to-date on all things IWU track and field, be sure to follow the team on social media @IWU_XCTF on Twitter and @IllinoisWesleyanXCTF on Instagram.

Print Friendly Version