Big Weekend For Ferris State Track & Field At Two Different West Michigan Events

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field teams had a big weekend as the Bulldogs sent competitors to two different West Michigan events while making their final preparations for the 2017 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships.

FSU sent selected student-athletes to the prestigious Hillsdale "Gina" Relays held Thursday thru Saturday in Hillsdale. The meet annually attracts top competition from all levels from across the country.

The Bulldogs' Racheal McDonald surpassed the NCAA Division II National Provisional Qualification time in placing fifth in the women's 5,000 meter open run at the Gina Relays with a time of 17:13.46 overall. Teammate Kathryn Etelamaki also topped the national standard by running 17:16.84 and came in seventh overall while Emily Haynes was ninth (17:26.87).

Meanwhile, Molly Emerick came in 14th overall in the 800 meters (2:14.49) at the Hillsdale meet.

On the men's side, Ferris State's Trevor Holowaty set a new school record and reached a national provisional qualifying time by clocking 14:35.18 overall to finish second in the 5,000 meters. 

FSU's Gunnar Meyer earned runner-up honors in the javelin with a throw of 177-11 at the meet. Senior Logan Hammer ran a personal-best time of 3:57.64 and placed fourth in the 1,500 meters at Hillsdale.

In addition to the Gina Relays, the Bulldogs also had a large contingent of student-athletes take part in the Calvin College Tune-Up on Saturday (April 29) in Grand Rapids.

Ferris State's Sarah Utchel won the women's 100 meters while setting a new personal best with a time of 12.45 in the race. She also finished third in the 200 meters (25.83).

FSU's Natalie Perry came in fourth overall in the 1,500 meters (4:57.27) while Jordan Lee placed eighth in the 800 meters (2:24.61). Hannah Price ran a personal-best and placed seventh in the 100-meter hurdles (16.04) and Raven Blaser was ninth in the long jump (4.70m).

In the throws, Maycee Robinson finished seventh in the hammer throw (48.07m) while Reina Trowel took ninth place in the shot put (11.52m) and was also ninth in the discus (39.18m). Kennedy Riebschleger wound up 11th in the javelin (26.86m).

On the men's side at Calvin, FSU's Casey Neal won the 1,500 meters (4:09.84). Ethan Israels placed eighth in the same race (4:19.56).

The Bulldogs also had a runner-up showing from Cody Stillwell in the hammer throw (59.98m) and a second-place finish from Hayden Francisco in the javelin (50.24m).

Ferris State's Chris Triffo placed seventh in the 400 meters (50.83) while clocking a personal-best, Ja'juan Pollock took eighth place in the 100 meters (11.37) with Lucas Harris finishing eighth in the 200 meters (22.91) in his best-time ever. Pollock also was 13th in the long jump (5.69m).

Along with Stillwell in the throws, the Bulldogs got a seventh-place finish from Ross Miller in the hammer (52.58m). Brett Allpow came in ninth in the discus (42.72m) and Tyler Satkowiak finished 10th in the hammer throw (50.03m).

The Bulldogs' 4x400-meter relay team of Nate Meyer, Hunter Redman, Harris and Triffo earned runner-up honors (3:28.96).

FSU will take part in the 2017 GLIAC Outdoor Championships May 5-7 in Allendale.