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Ferris State Hits Five NCAA-Qualifying Marks In Division II National Meet Of The Week

Ferris State Hits Five NCAA-Qualifying Marks In Division II National Meet Of The Week

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's indoor track and field teams hit five national provisional qualification marks while taking part in one of the country's largest indoor meets over the weekend (Feb. 14-15) in Allendale.

The Bulldogs competed in the two-day GVSU Big Meet hosted by Grand Valley State, which drew 1,663 total athletes who combined to compete 2,270 times inside the Kelly Family Sports Center. It was also selected as the Division II "National Meet of the Week" by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association.

Most of Friday night's activity was by invitation-only with open events taking place on Saturday. In addition to Division II competition from across the region, the meet also included student-athletes from Division I institutions and other small colleges.

Ferris State's distance medley relay team of Breeann Ovokaitys, Zoey Hohmann, Alyssa Osika and Samantha Johnson earned runner-up honors and topped the NCAA national-qualifying standard in the race with a time of 11:46.41.

Meanwhile, senior Anna Rudd placed sixth overall in the 5,000-meter run, which took place on Friday night by invitation-only. She clocked 17:01.01 in the race and surpassed the national standard.

Johnson finished seventh in the 800 meters (2:15.76) while topping the national provisional qualification mark in the event. She also topped the national time in the women's mile run invite-only race as she came in seventh on Friday night in a time of 4:52.66.

Shea Van Klompenberg took fifth place in the 400-meter open race (58.58) and freshman Natalie Perry captured fifth place in the mile run open division (5:10.69).

On the men's side, senior David Silversmith captured seventh place in the 5,000 meters and topped the national provisional qualification time with a school-record clocking of 14:32.66 in the race.

Bulldog senior Bill King earned seventh place in Saturday's mile run open event (4:18.09).

In the throwing events, the Bulldogs' David Jimpkoski wound up 10th in the weight throw (51-3.50) while Ryan Stankey placed 11th in the shot put open division (46-9.50).

Malik Washington took 12th place in the men's 60-meter open race (7.15) and Sam Goode was 12th in the weight throw (49-5.00).

Ferris State's distance medley relay tandem of Alex Bladecki, Hunter Redman, Connor LaRowe and Spencer Gerber also finished seventh (10:24.61).

Selected Ferris State student-athletes will compete again in Allendale on Friday (Feb. 21) as FSU takes part in the GVSU Tune-Up meet. The event will serve as a final chance to prepare for the 2014 GLIAC Indoor Championships, which will be held March 1-2 in Hillsdale.