Ferris State Takes Part In Hillsdale Event As Final Tune-Up For GLIAC Championships

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field squads turned in several season-best performances as the Bulldogs had their final tune-up for the 2016 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships by taking part in the Hillsdale "Gina" Relays in Hillsdale, Mich.

The large three-day meet annually ranks among the largest events in the region and brought competitors from all levels of competition from Thursday thru Saturday (April 28-30).

The Bulldog men were led by Damonta Madden, who won the 100-meter open race in a clocking of 10.85 overall, which narrowly missed ranking among the top five all-time performances in school history by one-tenth of a second. He also finished fourth in the 200 meters (22.08) with teammate Ja'juan Pollock coming in 18th in the 200 meters (23.05).

FSU's Matt Crawford came in fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (57.91) with Logan Hammer sixth in the 1,500 meters (3:58.43) and Chris Triffo eighth in the 400 meters (51.90).

Zach McKenzie took eighth place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:25.40) with Casey Neal 11th in the 1,500 meters (4:00.45).

The Bulldogs also had success in the throwing events as Gunnar Meyer took runner-up honors in the javelin (170-0). Tyler Satkowiak was 10th in the hammer throw (159-10) with Ross Miller 11th (157-6), Cody Stillwell 13th (154-8) and Austin Grant 15th (151-4) in the same event. Meanwhile, Brett Allpow captured 11th place in the discus (140-2) while Noah Minasola was 15th (128-3). Miller also finished 15th in the shotput (44-6.75).

On the women's side, FSU's Molly Emerick took fifth place in the women's 800-meter open race as she was clocked in 2:16.88 to lead the Bulldogs.

Sprinter Sarah Utchel came in ninth overall in the 100 meters (12.78) along with 17th in the 200 meters (26.05) while Raven Blaser placed 12th in the 100-meter event (12.95).

FSU's Racheal McDonald placed 14th in the 5,000 meters (17:39.84) with Emily Haynes coming in 16th (17:41.69) in the same event. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' Shaleen Williams was 17th in the 400 meters (1:03.48) with Lydia Huisken coming in 17th in the 100-meter hurdles (16.90) and Jordan Lee taking 19th in the 1,500 meters (4:52.67).

A total of 16 league schools and more than 800 student-athletes will converge on the Ferris State University campus and the Big Rapids community May 4-6 as the Bulldogs host the 2016 GLIAC Championships at Top Taggart Field.

Ferris State will serve as the host for the three-day meet, which begins on Wednesday, May 4, with day one action of the decathlon and heptathlon competition at 1:30 p.m. (ET) and first day events wrapping up at 7:30 p.m.

Action will continue all day from 9 a.m. (ET) to 8:30 p.m. (ET) on Thursday (May 5) with the multi events continuing in the morning followed by the field and running events officially beginning at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

Friday's (May 6) final day of competition starts at 11 a.m. (ET).  The meet will wrap up at approximately 4 p.m. (EDT) on Friday with the league awards ceremony following the conclusion of the meet.