Bulldog Track & Field Wraps Up Weekend Action At Two Meets Saturday

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's track and field teams continued weekend action on Saturday (April 20) with competition at two different meets.

The majority of the Bulldog teams were in action at the Al Owens Classic hosted by Grand Valley State in Allendale.  However, for the second-straight day, weather affected the event.

 While the throwing events were held outside at the Laker Track & Field Stadium, the rest of the event was moved indoors to the Kelly Family Sports Center.

On the women's side at GVSU, Jessica Pilling placed second in the hammer throw (180-10) while reaching the national provisional qualification standard.

Meanwhile, Christa Cwiek took fourth place in the javelin (96-1).

Alison Busick wound up sixth overall in the shot put (35-10.50). She was also 12th in the hammer throw (116-6).

On the men's side, Lucas Johnson earned runner-up honors in the hammer throw (171-1) while Austin Grant placed fifth (152-5), David Jimpkoski came in sixth (152-4) and JJ Vandenberg was seventh (150-2) in the same event.

Connor LaRowe took sixth place in the 800 meters (1:55.43).

Alex Bladecki came in eighth overall in the 1,500 meters (3:58.04) for FSU.

Ryan Stankey finished sixth in the discus (150-0) and was eighth in the shot put (44-11).

Ferris State was also eighth in the men's 4x400-meter relay (3:32.16).

In addition to the athletes competing at GVSU on Saturday, both Ryan Chute and Alyssa Osika along with Shea Van Klompenberg all took part in the Beach Invitational in California.  

Chute placed 15th overall of more than 100 runners in the men's 1,500 meters with a time of 3:53.28 in the event.  Meanwhile, Osika came in 39th overall in the 800 meters (2:14.78) while Van Klompenberg finished 75th (2:19.06) in the same event.  The Beach Invitational is hosted by Long Beach State University on the campus of Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.

Next weekend, the Bulldogs take part in the Hillsdale "Gina Relays" on Thursday and Friday, April 25-26, in Hillsdale, Mich.  FSU also will compete in the Central Michigan Lyle Bennett Open slated for Saturday, April 27, in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.