FSU Track & Field Runs At Two "Last Chance" Weekend Events

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's track and field teams sent student-athletes to a pair of seperate weekend meets at the same location as the Bulldogs took part in their final regular-season competition of the year.

FSU had athletes compete at both the Grand Valley State "2nd To Last Chance" meet on Friday (May 8) along with the GVSU "Last Chance" event on Saturday (May 9) in Allendale at the GVSU Track & Field/Lacrosse Stadium.

The two meets featured athletes from several schools and served as a final opportunity for competitors to qualify or improve their performances for the upcoming NCAA Division II Championships.

On Friday, Bulldog senior Samantha Johnson provisionally-qualified for the 800 meters as she finished first in a national-qualifying time of 2:11.37 in the race.

Meanwhile, senior Breeann Ovokaitys took third place in the 1,500 meters (4:37.24). Sophomore Racheal McDonald came in 10th overall in the same race (5:09.65).

FSU's Samantha Humphrey was fifth in the 5,000 meters (18:20.40).

Senior Briana Raasio was the runner-up in the javelin (127-5). She also took 14th place in the hammer throw (141-00) and came in 18th in the discus (113-11) with freshman Lindsay Greahling 19th in the discus (112-11).

On the men's side, freshman Connor Pilmore earned runner-up honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:54.09).

FSU's Ross Miller was sixth in the shot put (47-3.50) and senior Ryan Stankey took eighth (46-4). Stankey was seventh in the discus (135-4) and freshman Noah Minasola came in eighth (132-4). Miller also placed 12th in the hammer throw (150-6) and sophomore Tyler Satkowiak wound up 13th (149-9).

Freshman Trevor Holowaty finished 10th in the 1,500 meters (4:03.69) with junior Kyle Richardson right behind in 11th place (4:05.47).

Sophomore Hunter Redman placed 15th in the 800 meters (2:00.43) and sophomore Ryan Wickstrom was 20th in the 1,500 meters (4:44.43).

On Saturday, Johnson clocked 4:30.45 in winning the 1,500 meters, which again surpassed the NCAA National provisional-qualifying standard.

Raasio also competed in three events on Saturday, including a third-place finish in the javelin (122-4). She also placed 13th in the hammer throw (141-9) and was 20th in the discus (123-10).

The official competitors for the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be announced early this coming week. Both Johnson and Ovokaitys have qualified provisionally for the national meet, which will be hosted by GVSU in Allendale on May 21-23.