Track and Field Teams Compete In GLIAC Outdoor Championships
HILLSDALE, MICH. – The Northwood University track and field teams traveled to Hillsdale College for the 2015 GLIAC Outdoor Championships Thursday-Friday (April 30-May 1).
Jeremy Wilchcombe (Freeport, Bahamas / St. Georges(NU-TX)) is the GLIAC Champion in the men's triple jump with a mark of 15.13 meters (49-6). This also rebroke the school record from a previous jump this season. Wilchcombe has both indoor and outdoor triple jump records that were previously set in 1987 by Tim Davis. Wilchcombe also took fourth in the long jump with the second best jump in school history at 7.08 meters (23-2.75), while Jon Thompson (Albuquerque, N. Mex. / NU-Texas) finished seventh with a jump of 6.84 meters (22-05.25). Along with Wilchcombe, Wally Clay (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Flint Southwestern) also earned All-GLIAC honors with a third place finish in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.58. Josh Gardner (Howell, Mich.) followed close behind, taking fifth at 21.87. With a personal best and NCAA Provisional Qualifying throw of 49.72 meters (163-01), Paul Evans (Lenox, Mich. / New Haven) earned a sixth place finish in the discus, while Rayvaun Tyler took seventh in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.10.
NU's 4x100 meter relay team of Wilchcombe, Clay, Tyler and Gardner ran a 41.89 to finish fourth. The men's team finished seventh overall with 37 points. Grand Valley State took home the trophy with 159 points, while Ashland finished second at 143.
Elaina Meadows (Schoolcraft, Mich.) finished sixth with a record-breaking long jump mark of 5.61 meters (18-5). The previous Northwood record was 18-1 set by Cicilie Murdock in 1987. Madison Arnouts (Grand Ledge, Mich.) also took sixth in the 400 meter hurdles clocking 1:03.92 after entering the meet with a 15th ranking in the GLIAC. Coming into the meet ranking 14th in the GLIAC, Hunter Perry (Moran, Mich. / Rudyard) finished seventh in the discus throw with a mark of 43.32 meters (142-01).
Northwood's 4x100 meter relay team rebroke the school record of 47.99 running 47.71, takin fourth with the team Kara Young (Zephyrhills, Fla.), Claudia Coleman (Keller,Tx / Fossil Ridge (NU-Texas)), Valencia Lynch and Elaina Meadows. The women's team finished 14th with 13 points. Grand Valley State was the overall team winner with 159 points, while Hillsdale finished second at 109.5 points.
Members of the track and field teams will travel to Grand Valley State next weekend for the Second to Last Chance Meet on Friday (May 8) and Last Chance Meet on Saturday (May 9). Wilchcombe currently ranks 6th in the country in the men's triple jump with his 15.13 meter jump. Should he qualify for the NCAA Outdoor National Championships, that meet will take place at Grand Valley State May 21-23.