Track and Field: Comets compete at Aquinas and Hillsdale

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's and women's track & field teams competed today at the Aquinas College Ernie Mousseau Classic. In addition, a select group of other student-athletes participated in the Hillsdale College "Gina" Relays.

The men had most of their success at the "Gina" Relays, with three school-record performances. On Thursday night, senior Greg Lutzke broke the school record in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:08.03. On Friday night, senior Andrew Benkovsky had a school-record time of 9:18.32 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The time moved him up to 12th on the NCAA Division III Performance List. Also on Friday night, sophomore Connor Bauserman placed fourth among 52 runners in the 800-meter run with a life-time best time of 1:54.87.

Today at Hillsdale, senior Jalen Weaver ran in the 800-meter run and broke the school-record by 7/10th of a second at 1:52.43. The time moves him into 12th on the NCAA Division III Performance List.

At Aquinas, sophomore Blake Wilson finished sixth of 22 runners in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:12.53. Sophomore Bryce Prudden shared sixth-place in the high jump with a 1.81 meter/5 feet, 11-1/4 inch clearance.

For the women at Aquinas, freshman Jessica D'Haene turned in Olivet's best performance on the track. She was the sixth runner to cross the finish line in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:30.18. Freshman Isabelle Leon placed eighth in the 1,500-meter run at 5:11.82.

In the field events, senior Cassie Ciaravino tied for second-place in the high jump. She cleared the bar at 1.52 meters/4 feet, 11-3/4 inches.

Junior Danielle Marsh ran in the 5,000-meter run at Hillsdale. Her time of 20:44.62 was a lifetime best.

Olivet now turns its attention to the 2015 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Field Day next Thursday and Friday, April 29-30, at Albion College.