Posted: Feb 23, 2019

RECAP: Strong Day One Sets No. 16 Men, Women Up For Successful Finish At GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships

MEET: 2019 GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships

LOCATION: SVSU Fieldhouse, Saginaw Valley State University – University Center, Mich.

The Northwood University men's and women's indoor track and field teams had a strong first day of competition Saturday (February 23), with two podium finishes and nine athletes advancing to the finals in their respective events.

The No. 16 Northwood men sit in fourth in the team standings with 19 points going into competition today (February 24) through four events scored.

Below is the recap of highlights from the first day of action, followed by a list of events and athletes competing for the Timberwolves on the final day of competition.

PHILLIPS PODIUMS, SET TO COMPETE IN EVENT FINALS

In one of the first contested events of the day, sophomore Mason Phillips claimed a second-place finish in the long jump. His best distance of the day landed at 7.29m (23 feet-11 inches) that came on his third attempt of the competition. This is the second All-GLIAC performance in the long jump for Mason after placing second a year ago.

Phillips also turned in the top qualifying times in the men's 60 and 200 meter dashes in 6.79 seconds and 21.32 seconds respectively. Both surpassed the NCAA provisional standard and has done so every race this season. He will look to win his first GLIAC titles of his careers in both events, as he placed second in the 200 meters and third in the 60 meters a year ago for All-GLIAC honors.

DMR PLACES THIRD FOR ALL-GLIAC FINISH

The men's distance medley relay of freshmen Chase Clark, Stephen Barker, Netunji Paige and sophomore Brian Patrick claimed All-GLIAC honors upon a third-place finish. Their time of 10:03.45 surpassed the NCAA provisional standard. This is the first indoor All-GLIAC performance for all four men.

ROCHA PLACES FOURTH IN 5000 METERS

Senior Dylan Rocha battled in the men's 5000 meters to claim a fourth-place finish with a time of 14:43.57. This is his first GLIAC place-winning performance indoors and the third in his Northwood career (indoors and outdoors).

DAVIS A TWO-EVENT FINALIST

Freshman Andrew Davis will be featured in two event finals in his championship debut. Davis finished second to teammate Phillips in their preliminary heat of the men's 60 dash in 6.93 seconds for the fourth-fastest qualifying time.

He will also be run in the men's 200 meter finals after turning in the eighth-fastest time in the prelims (22.10 seconds).

GHARSALLI THROUGH IN 60MH FINALS

Senior Rami Gharsalli is the fastest qualifier for the men's 60 meter hurdle finals with a time of 8.08 seconds in an NCAA provisional time. He will look to win his second GLIAC Championship in the event, previously winning it in 2017.

LEWIS ADVANCES TO 60, 200 FINALS

Senior Jetaeia Lewis will look to finish strong in her GLIAC indoor debut after advancing to the finals of the women's 60 and 200 meter dashes. She is the second-fastest qualifier in the 60 meters after winning her preliminary heat in 7.64 seconds. Her time is a lifetime best and an improved NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

In the 200, she posted the fourth-fastest qualifying time (25.05 seconds).

INSIDE THE MEET

Freshman Debra Wallace will join Lewis in the women's 200 meter finals as the sixth-fastest qualifier. She won her preliminary heat in 25.17 seconds.
Freshman Josiah Morse is the eighth-fastest qualifier in the men's 400 meters and will compete in the event finals in his first GLIAC Championships. This was an event Northwood was not projected to score in.
Sophomore Hunter Berecz hit a big personal best in the men's weight throw. His final throw of the opening flights traveled 16.19m (53 feet-1.5 inches) to move himself into eighth on the all-time performance list in program history.