FSU Runs Well In Lone Home Meet Of Season

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's track and field teams took advantage of their lone opportunity to compete at home this season by posting several impressive marks in Saturday's (April 9) annual running of the Bulldog Invitational at Top Taggart Field.

The meet took place under sunny and breezy weather conditions and served as the Bulldogs' lone home competition of the 2011 outdoor season. 

In addition to Ferris State, student-athletes from several other schools across the state took part, including Calvin, Hope, Saginaw Valley State, Grand Valley State, Northwood, Lake Superior State, Concordia, Davenport and Lansing Community College along with unattached competitors.

Sophomore Zoey Hohmann won the women's 400 meters (57.27) and came in second overall in the 200 meters (25.94).

Freshman Samantha Johnson earned runner-up laurels in the 800 meters (2:18.18) and also came in second in the 1,500 meters (4:37.77).

The Bulldogs also garnered three of the top five spots in the women's 3,000 meters as freshman Brittany Anderson placed second (10:25.59), sophomore Anna Rudd was third (10:26.45) and sophomore Alyssa Osika wound up fifth (10:35.43).

Ferris State junior Amy Joostberns finished second in the discus (138-11) with freshman Jessica Pilling coming in second in the hammer throw (154-10) as the Bulldog women tallied eight top-three efforts in the meet.

Sophomore Christa Cwiek also finished among the top five as she took fourth place in the javelin (105-0) for FSU.

The Bulldog men were paced by sophomore Ryan Chute, who brought home runner-up honors in the 3,000 meters (8:42.78).  Sophomore J.J. Vandenburg was fifth in the hammer throw (158-5).

Bulldog sophomore Derrick Bartlett came in seventh in the 800 meters (1:58.89).  Sophomore Kyle Walch was eighth in the 110-meter hurdles (17.49).

The FSU men also were sxith in the 4x400-meter relay (3:31.15).

The Bulldog Invitational was held on an annual basis prior to the 1987 season. Ferris then reinstated the annual event by hosting their first home track meet in 12 seasons on April 10, 1999. The meet has been held each season since then with the exception of the 2000 and 2006 outdoor campaigns when the event was cancelled due to weather.

Ferris State will hit the road again next Saturday (April 16) as the Bulldogs travel to Midland to take part in the Northwood Invitational.  The meet will take place at the same site as this season's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Outdoor Championships in early May.