Ferris State Opens Outdoor Track Action At Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field squads officially opened the outdoor campaign over the weekend as the Bulldogs competed in the Big Blue Classic hosted by Eastern Illinois University.

The competition featured a mix of NCAA Division I and II schools along with other regional based institutions such as Western Michigan, Ferris State, Eastern Illinois, Bradley, Olivet Nazarene, Illinois State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Illinois-Chicago among others.

In the women's competition, junior Jordan Lee took fifth place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:11.75) and sophomore Kathryn Etelamaki came in sixth in the 5,000 meters (17:36.65). The Bulldogs' Sarah Utchel placed ninth in the 100 meters (12.82) with sophomore Salix Sampson taking 14th place in the 400 meters (1:02.25).

FSU finished ninth and 10th overall in the women's 800 meters with Carissa Schurr placing ninth (2:21.09) and Sydney Dawes coming in 10th (2:21.91). Senior Natalie Perry was 14th in the 1,500 meters (5:03.35).

Freshman Amanda Eslinger tied for eighth place in the high jump (1.50m) and sophomore Reina Troxwell placed 13th in the discus (37.22m).

Ferris State was also second overall in the women's 4x800-meter relay (9:33.00) with the tandem consisting of Dawes, Schurr, Jennifer Eaton and Katelyn Hutchinson.

Men's junior Zach Mckenzie earned runner-up honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:09.38) while sophomore Stanley Williams was second in the long jump (7.02m). Sophomore Lucas Harris placed seventh in the 400 meters (51.61) and was 15th in the 200 meters (23.58).

FSU senior Ross Miller finished fourth in the hammer throw (51.93m) while senior Brett Allpow came in ninth in the discus (44.92m) and 10th in the hammer (48.72m). The Bulldogs' Chris Triffo took fifth place in the javelin (46.15m).

Freshman Christian Hector came in 15th in the 400 meters (52.66) with Mark Jacobs taking 19th place in the 1,500 meters (4:17.14). Bulldog junior Damien Halverson finished 15th in the 5,00 meters (15:28.29).

The Bulldogs also took third place in the 4x800-meter relay (8;15.48) with the quartet of John Alberts, Jacobs, Ethan Israels and Dylan Hearns taking part.

Ferris State will next compete at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on April 6-7 in East Lansing.