Ferris State Track & Field Wraps Up Busy Weekend At Three Different Meets

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field squads split up this past weekend for action in three different meets across the country as the Bulldogs continued preparations for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships in early May.

The Bulldogs had selected student-athletes compete at the prestigious Mt. Sac Relays on Thursday and Friday (April 17-18) in California along with the Beach Invitational hosted by Long Beach State University on Saturday (April 19). Meanwhile, other squad members were in action at the Al Owens Classic hosted by Grand Valley State on Friday and Saturday in Allendale.

Breeann Ovokaitys placed 59th overall in the open race of the Mt. Sac Relays in the 1,500 meters (4:33.16), which included 143 participants from across the nation. Alyssa Osika took 57th overall in the 800 meters (2:12.59). David Silversmith competed for the men in the 10,000 meters but did not finish due to injury.

Osika also ran on Saturday at the Beach Invitational and took 18th overall in a time of 4:34.76 midst a field consisting of 97 participants. Ovokaitys ran in the same race and finished 39th (4:39.59) with senior Anna Rudd 50th (4:43.36).

The Bulldogs' Zoey Hohmann placed 13th overall in the 400 meters (56.44) at the Beach Invite with Shea Van Klompenberg 44th in the race (58.18).

In the Grand Valley State meet, which included a number of NCAA Division I, III and III schools from across the state and more, the Bulldog men's team compiled 29 points, which was good for seventh of 25 teams or clubs overall. The women's team posted 16.50 points with limited competitors for 13th in the field.

Briana Raasio earned runner-up honors in the javelin (129-9) at GVSU.

Raven Blaser took sixth place in the 100 meters (12.40) along with seventh in the 200 meters (25.92). She also was fifth overall in the long jump (17-2.25).

On the men's side, Damonta Madden placed second overall in the 100 meters (10.82) and also was the runner-up in the 200 meters (21.81). Meanwhile, Lucas Johnson finished second overall in the hammer throw (183-5) while topping the NCAA Division II National Provisional mark.

FSU's Alex Bladecki took seventh place in the 1,500 meters (4:00.35) with Bill King 11th overall in the same event (4:00.89). David Jimpkoski wound up eighth in the hammer throw (153-8), Hayden Francisco placed ninth in the javelin (159-11) with Austin Grant 10th (151-9) in the hammer.

Ryan Stankey placed 11th in the discus (142-1) while Connor LaRowe came in 12th overall in the 800 meters (1:58.51).

FSU was also seventh in the 4x400-meter relay (3:29.83) with a quartet of Brian Murphy, Thomas Lyons, LaRowe and Hunter Redman.

The Bulldogs will return to action this week at the Hilldale "Gina" Relays set for Thursday thru Saturday (April 24-26) in Hillsdale, Mich.