Bulldog Track Finds Success In Home Meet

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field teams had an opportunity to run in front of a home crowd for the first time this season as FSU hosted the annual Bulldog Invitational on Saturday (April 7) at Top Taggart Field.

The Bulldogs had a pair of NCAA national-qualifying performances on the women's side with senior Tina Muir in the 1,500 meters and Jessica Pilling in the hammer throw.

Muir won the 1,500 meters in a time of 4:27.28 with sophomore teammate Samantha Johnson placing second (4:37.05) in the event and junior Shelby Janutol fourth (4:51.43).  Meanwhile, Pilling was victorious in the hammer throw (53.36m).

FSU's Zoey Hohmann won the 400 meters (56.82) and took second place in the 200 meters (25.52)

Shea Van Klompenberg placed second in the 400 meters (58.67), Briana Raasio claimed second in the shot put (11.13m) and Alesha Reed was fourth in the high jump (1.46m). Pilling picked up fourth place in the discus (32.22m) with Raasio taking fifth place (31.96m).  Raasio also was fourth in the hammer (38.25m).

Ferris State also had the top two finishers in the javelin with Christa Cwiek first (34.11m) and Raasio second (33.98m).

FSU was second overall in the women's 4x400-meter relay (4:19.15).

On the men's side, FSU's Spencer Gerber won the 1,500 meters (4:00.14) and Alex Best finished first in the 3,000 meters (8:42.28).  Andrew Harper was the runner-up in the 3,000 (8:46.19) and Kyle Garner placed second in the 110-meter hurdles (16.26).

Ryan Stankey came in first in the shot put (15.64m).

Senior Justin Price finished first in the 400 meters (29.04) and was second in the 200 meters (22.71) while Sean Steeno claimed third place in the 100 meters (11.33) and fourth place in the 200 meters (23.22). 

Thomas Lyons took fifth in both the 100 meters (11.65) and 200 meters (23.32).

Brian Murphy wound up third in the 400 meters (50.88) and Luca Cutraro was fifth in the 400 meters (52.28).

In the 800 meters, freshman Blake Garver took second (1:57.37), William King was third (1:59.24), Connor LaRowe came in fourth (2:01.81) and Carlvin Dorvilier placed fifth (2:06.78).

JJ Vandenberg netted second place in the shot put (13.30m) and was third in the hammer (48.67m) while David Jimpkoski was fifth in the shot put (12.33m) and Stankey placed fourth in the hammer (44.41m) along with fifth in the discus (39.15m).

The Bulldogs men finished second and third overall in the 4x400-meter relay with times of 3:28.90 and 3:40.95, respectively.

FSU is next in action on Saturday, April 14, with selected members heading to the Don Kleinow Invitational at Adrian College and others taking part in the Hillsdale Outdoor Meet in Hillsdale, Mich.