One Greyhound has automatically qualified for Nationals after both track teams travelled to Ball State University for the Cardinal Invitational on Friday, April 17.
Senior Farin Hickman threw 59.31 meters in the hammer toss, earning the mark as well as a new school record. Junior Lissette Mendivil earned a provisional mark in discus with a throw of 46.35 meters and freshman Katie Monk also threw 44.30 meters for a mark in discus.
Freshman Austin Hogan achieved a provisional mark for the men in discus with a throw of 49.49 meters.
Prior to the Cardinal Invitational, the Greyhounds traveled to Indiana Wesleyan University for the Indiana Little State Championship on Saturday, April 11.
Hogan earned a provisional mark with a throw of 50.61 meters in the discus, while junior Vincent Ziraldo also achieved a provisional mark in the hammer toss with a throw of 57.09 meters.
The women took first place at the meet. According to Head Track and Field Coach Scott Fangman, the women won more than half of the events at the meet.
Senior Kelly Walter earned her first provisional mark for the outdoor season in the high jump with a jump of 1.68 meters. Hickman achieved a provisional mark in the hammer toss with a throw of 57.15 meters and also earned a new personal best of 13.81 meters in the shot put.
After a statistically impressive meet, junior Haley Havert, who won the 5000-meter with a time of 17:47.39, said that she felt this was not only her most successful season, but the team as a whole had been successful as well.
“Winning the 5K at Little State was definitely a positive for me. It also was a confidence booster. And for this being my third season here, I can say this has been my best season so far. As a team, we are also doing really well,” Havert said. “Some of the newer and younger girls have really surprised us with how well they’re doing, so that helps us.”
The Greyhounds do not host a meet during outdoor season, which is different from this past indoor season, when they hosted all but one. Fangman said that because of the large difference, there is a change in the way the athletes must act and think.
“You have to think more teamwise instead of individually when on the road. When we host, we have them come in about an hour before their event. And when you’re on the road, you have to be less selfish and [more] team-oriented. It becomes an all-day event as we roll in around 9 a.m. and then pack up around 7 p.m., and then you have to add road time,” Fangman said. “The weather is also uncontrollable. Whether there be rain or sunshine, you better be dressed and ready, because we’re still running.”
Fangman also said that being on the road also alters the way the coaches view the meets.
“It’s a lot easier on the coaches [when traveling]. When we’re here, we also have to be hosts, and it gets busy. I don’t get to see very many races when we host. But I get to watch almost every race in outdoor season, so I get to coach more, and I really enjoy that,” Fangman said.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will travel next to Bellarmine University for the Bellarmine Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 28. The start time is yet to be determined.
