Bulldog Track & Field Racks Up 43 Top-Five Finishes In Annual Home Meet

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field teams braved the weather for an opportunity to run on their home track Saturday (April 6) as FSU hosted its annual Bulldog Open at Top Taggart Field.

The meet served as the Bulldogs' lone home competition of the season and included student-athletes from FSU, Lake Superior State and Grand Valley State along with unattached competitors.

Despite facing chilly temperatures, the Bulldogs still managed to post several impressive performances, which included a total of 43 top-five finishes in the men's and women's competition combined.

On the women's side, FSU's Jessica Pilling led the way by winning three events in the discus (33.23m), shot put (11.45m) along with the hammer throw (53.86m).

Alyssa Osika took both the 800 meters (2:22.99) and the 1,500 meters (4:57.42) while Shea Van Klompenberg won the 400 meters (59.81).

In addition, Rachel Wood was third in the 800 meters (2:32.74) with Brittany Anderson fourth (2:32.75) and Breeann Ovokaitys fifth (2:35.36). Anderson was third in the 1,500 meters (5:09.24) with Ovokaitys coming in fifth (5;12.08).

In the shot put, Ferris State claimed the top five spots with Pilling's first-place effort leading the way (11.45m) followed by Alison Busick in second (10.56), Christa Cwiek third (10.20), Erica Roe fourth (5.92) and Haleigh Przybylek fifth (5.04).

Pilling was also first in the hammer throw (53.86) with Rachel Long third (38.09) and Busick fourth (36.66).  Meanwhile, Cwiek won the javelin (30.73) and Pilling took second place (29.57). Finally, in the discus, Pilling was followed by Long in second place (31.34) and Busick placed fourth (28.45).

FSU was second in the women's 4x400-meter relay (4:26.43).

On the men's side, Ferris State's Zachary Cross placed third (24.16) in the 200 meters, Thomas Lyons was fourth (24.72) and Kyle Walch came in fifth (25.19).

Luca Cutraro placed second in the 400 meters (52.26) with Austin Syrek fourth (52.84). 
FSU's Kyle Richardson was second in the 800 meters (2:06.68), Tyler Weedon placed fourth (2:10.55) and Brian Murphy finished fifth (2:13.68).

Ferris State took second thru fourth overall in the men's 1,500 meters as Bill King was the runner-up (4:15.09) followed by Richardson in third place (4:18.21) and Weedon in fourth (4:26.05).

Charlton Craig wound up third in the 5,000 meters (16:17.54) and Douglas Hulbert placed fifth (16:33.58) while Kyle Garner came in fifth overall in the 400-meter hurdles (1:03.81) for the Bulldogs.

In the throws, FSU took four of the top five spots in the hammer throw, including the top three as Lucas Johnson won the event (49.87), JJ Vandenberg was second (47.06) and Austin Grant finished third (45.86).  FSU's Ryan Stankey placed fifth (44.14).  

Stankey was the runner-up in the shot put (14.05) for the Bulldogs.

Ferris State's men finished second in the 4x400-meter relay (3:52.76) along with third in the 4x100-meter relay (45.47).

Next week, the Bulldogs take part in the Hillsdale Invitational on Saturday, April 13, in Hillsdale, Mich.