FSU Track Posts NCAA Marks In D2 Challenge

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's track and field team placed seventh while the men's squad was 11th in the annual NCAA Division II Team Challenge hosted on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 5-6) at Findlay, Ohio.

The Bulldog women registered 36 points with the men's team recording 24 points in the event held inside the Malcolm Athletic Center, a part of the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex.

The field included a number of NCAA Division II teams from across the region and surrounding states with 20 men's teams and 17 women's programs participating in the meet.

Freshman Anna Rudd emerged victorious in the 3,000 meters (10:23.06) in leading the Bulldog women's squad.

FSU junior Tina Muir finished second in the women's mile run (5:01.78) while meeting the NCAA Division II provisional qualifying standard. Freshman Shelby Janutol came in fifth overall in the same event by clocking 5:11.07 in a field of 24 runners.

Senior Emily Cross wound up sixth in the high jump (5-2.25), freshman Alyssa Osika took seventh place in the 800 meters (2:18.90) and Cross was eighth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.30).

FSU also placed second in the women's distance medley relay (12:05.32) and surpassed the national provisional qualifying time in the race.

The Bulldog men had two first place finishers in the event.

Senior Greg Burns surpassed the national provisional mark by placing tied for first in the pole vault (15-7) along with Grand Valley State's Matt Gordeneer.

Meanwhile, senior Mike Mangieri claimed the 3,000 meters (8:38.56) by finishing first in a field of 28 participants. Sophomore Tyler Crossman also competed in the 3,000 meters and came in eighth (8:48.01) for FSU.

The FSU men placed fifth overall in the distance medley relay (10:24.97).

Ferris State is next slated to compete in the Grand Valley State "Big Meet" scheduled for next Friday (Feb. 12) inside the Laker Turf Building at Allendale, Mich.