Track and field teams participate in Hillsdale “Gina” Relays
The men’s and women’s track and field teams participated in the first day of the 2011 Hillsdale College “Gina” Relays. The two-day meet had athletes from all levels of competition from NCAA Division I, II and III schools, club programs, NAIA institutions and unattached athletes.
HILLSDALE, Mich. – The Olivet College men's and women's track and field teams participated in the first day of the 2011 Hillsdale College "Gina" Relays. The two-day meet had athletes from all levels of competition from NCAA Division I, II and III schools, club programs, NAIA institutions and unattached athletes.
For the women, Katie Yahrmarkt (Sparta) lowered her own school record time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 13:49.32. The 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays each broke their school record. The 4x100 quartet of Becca Gaarde (Parma/Western), Chelsea Guzikowski (Reed City), Cassandra Ciaravino (Lapeer/East) and Liz Stewart (Vermontville/Maple Valley) clocked-in with a time of 51.34 seconds. The 4x400 quartet of Stewart, Ciaravino, Mayle and Sarah Caldwell (Bronson) shattered the record by almost seven seconds at 4:11.35.
Olivet's three runners in the 100-meter dash all posted season-best times, led by Jenna Mayle (Ionia) in 13.94 seconds. Crissi Moulton (Royal Oak/Shrine Catholic) and Carly Olson (DeWitt) also had season-best times in the 200-meter dash.
Caldwell had the fastest time among NCAA Division III athletes and her time was just slower than her season-best time. Guzikowski recorded a time nearly four seconds faster than her previous best in the 800-meter run.
Ciaravino was second among Division III runners in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.38 seconds, and Gaarde was just behind her in a season-best time of 16.79 seconds. Ciaravino went a season-best time of 1:10.50 in the 400-meter hurdles.
In the field events, Heather Nicklaw (Springport) cleared 1.55m/5-1 to finish first among D3 athletes and 10th overall. Ciaravino and Stewart had identical 4.93m/16-2.25 performances in the long jump, while Ciaravino leaped 9.40m/30-10.25) in the triple jump.
For the men, James Williams (Battle Creek/Central) posted a season-best time in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.19 seconds. Justin Holmes (Springport) had a season-best time of 50.84 seconds in the 400-meter dash. Conner Plagens (South Lyon) and Evan Platonas (Royal Oak/Shrine Catholic) ran lifetime best times in the 800-meter run.
The Comets will return to action next Thursday and Friday, May 5-6, when they host the 2011 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Field Day on the Kolassa Track and inside the Cutler Athletic Complex. Action starts Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m.