Men’s indoor track and field team begins season at Doug Hansen Open

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Olivet College men's track and field team began the indoor portion of its 2022 schedule by competing today in the Doug Hansen Open, hosted by Saginaw Valley State University.

• Junior Denver Orlando tied Deven Varela from SVSU for the top mark in the pole vault – 14 feet, 1/2 inch – but the judge's decision was used to declare as Varela the winner.
• Junior Byron Pearce posted the second-best throw – 49 feet, 10 inches – in the weight throw.
• In a field of 17 runners, junior Tyler Chavalia made the finals of the 60-meter dash. After finishing the prelims in 7.29 seconds, he dropped 1/100th of a second in the finals with a time of 7.28 seconds to place seventh. Chavalia had the top mark among NCAA DIII competitors in the long jump, leaping 18 feet, 9-3/4 inches.
• In a field of 33 runners, sophomore Hunter Hillard placed second among seven NCAA Division III runners in the 800-meter run (2:10.84). Freshman Kayden Shrock was right behind him in 2:11.07.
• In a field of 44 runners, junior Chase Mendham was first among seven NCAA DIII runners in the mile run (4:30.02).
• Junior John C Downey finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles, as only an unattached runner and two runners from SVSU were faster. He had a finals time of 9.66 seconds after running 9.74 seconds in the prelims.

• Olivet heads to Wittenberg (Ohio) University next Saturday, January 29, for the Steemer Showcase.