Ferris State Track Squads Combine For 52 Top-Eight Finishes At CMU Chippewa Open

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field squads returned to the track with a strong day of action on Saturday (April 11) at the Central Michigan University Chippewa Open held in Mount Pleasant.

Between the two squads, Ferris State came up with 52 top-eight meet finishes, including four first-place performances.

Ferris State's Alexis Le was the runner-up for the women's team in the high jump (5-1.25) and Maddy Biller took second in the hammer throw (136-7). Raquel Hernandez was third in the discus (111-8).

The Bulldogs' Olivia Denend came in third in the 3,000 meters (10:38.47) while Emily Plouff was sixth (10:49.12) and Ava LaMilza finished eighth (10:59.14).

Lizzie Haines took second place in the 400 hurdles (1:05.77) while Frances Hoffman wound up ffith (1:08.62). Haines also recorded a third-place finish in the 100 hurdles (15.21) with Sadie Larson seventh (15.47) and Hoffman eighth (17.18).

Ana Fortier placed sixth in the 100 meters (12.67) with Lacey Zimmerman seventh (12.93) and Alexandria Hunter eighth (13.88).

FSU's Oliviah Malloy finished sixth in the 400 meters (1:02.45) with Claudia Johnson seventh (1:02.90) and Emma Berglund eighth (1:03.14).

In the 800 meters, Ferris State's Abby Griffith was sixth (2:19.59) and Ella Kowatch claimed seventh place (2:21.31). Whitney Farrell was sixth in the 1,500 meters (4:41.42) and Angela Kotecki came in sixth in the long jump (15-8.75).

Additionally, Biller was fifth in the javelin (80-4) with Allie Delost eighth (69-1). Rebecca Marvin placed fifth in the discus (100-7) and seventh in the hammer throw (121-5) while Meaghan Robertson finished seventh in the discus (97-7) and eighth in the hammer (98-9).

On the men's side, Trevor Smith won the 100 meters (10.80) and Carson Guysi was second (10.87). Smith also won the 200 meters (21.61) with Lucas Seifferlein second (21.97) and Chase Segaar seventh (22.45).

FSU's Jared Watchorn won the 800 meters (1:56.91) while David Harris placed third (1:57.26) and Jarrett Wentworth eighth (2:06.57).

Tyrese Beedle placed fourth in the 400 meters (52.29) and Lucas Vandam was eighth (54.00).

Andrew Shafley claimed third place in the 1,500 meters (4:06.05) with Harris fifth (4:08.48), Hayden Gould seventh (4:09.48) and Josh Langland eighth (4:09.50).

Ferris State's Ben Knuth was the runner-up in the 5,000 meters (14:58.96) with Emmett Johnson third (15:09.07). Aaron Pierce wound up fifth in the long jump (20-10.5).

Hunter Richardson placed third in both the shot put (48-7.25) and the discus (149-0) to go with a fifth-place effort in the hammer throw (148-11). Brady Zarb was sixth in the hammer (140-7), sixth in the shot (44-7.5) and eighth in the discus (122-5). In addition, Jack Romel finished seventh in the discus (123-6).

The Bulldogs also won the 4x100-meter relay with the quartet of Blace Farrington, Guysi, Charlie Sutton and Smith clocking 42.00.

Ferris State will next compete on April 17-18 at the Elaine Leigh Invite slated to take place in Rochester, Mich.