Track & Field Squads Open Competition At Raleigh Relays And Bellarmine Invitational With Seasonal, Personal Bests

RALEIGH RELAYS / BELLARMINE INVITATIONAL – DAY 1

MEET: Raleigh Relays

LOCATION: Paul Derr Track – Raleigh, NC

INSIDE THE MEET

• Senior Dylan Rocha clocked the fifth-fastest time in Northwood history in the 5000 meter run with a time of 15:03.81. His time is an outdoor 5k personal best, improving upon his previous outdoor best of 15:34.83 set at Raleigh Relays last year. 
• Freshman Netunji Paige dropped down to the 400 meter dash and turned in a time of 50.49 seconds, closing in on his lifetime best in the event.
• The 1500 meter run featured sophomore Trestin Mancillas-Finnerty and freshman Parker Hayes. Mancillas-Finnery crossed the line in 3:59.09, with Hayes finishing in 4:02.90.
• Sophomore Brian Patrick moved to into fourth all-time in school history in the invitational section of the 10000 meter run with his time of 31:40.29. This was the first 10k race of his collegiate career outside of the cross country season.

MEET: Bellarmine Invitational

LOCATION: Owsley B. Frazier Stadium – Louisville, KY

INSIDE THE MEET – MEN'S T&F

• Freshman JaiVen Holmes-Powell posted a time of 58.79 seconds in the 400 meter hurdles to place fifth.
• In the 800 meters, freshman Andrew Wendler placed sixth in 1:58.42 for a collegiate best. Sophomore Michael Allen crossed the line in 2:00.92.
• Freshmen Josiah Morse and Stephen Barker placed 5-6 in the 1500 meter run with times of 4:08.61 and 4:10.19 respectively.
• The throws were highlighted by the hammer throw on a fifth place finish by sophomore Hunter Bercez, posting a personal best of 48.60 meters (159 feet-5 inches) to move up to sixth in school history. This was nearly a three meter personal best, bettering his previous mark of 45.75 meters last year at the Ashland Alumni Open in April.
• Also in the hammer throw, sophomore Nathan Powers placed a mark of 44.49 meters (145 feet-11 inches). Freshmen Zechariah Stickler and Dylan Powers threw the hammer 42.31 meters (138 feet-10 inches) and 39.17 meters (128 feet-6 inches) in their first collegiate competition in the event.
• Freshman Max Lerchen competed in his first javelin competition of the season and placed fourth on a mark of 45.41 meters (149 feet) for the seventh-farthest throw in NU history. 

INSIDE THE MEET – WOMEN'S T&F

• In the 400 meters, freshman Debra Wallace won the event in 56.43 seconds for a new lifetime best. The time puts her at #2 in school history behind Cicille Murdock's school record of 56.44 seconds set in 1987. Kaehla Manly placed seventh with a time of 1:02.51 seconds.
• Senior Jacqueline Reneaud and freshman Katherine Wozniak competed in the 800 meters, posting times of 2:36.73 and 2:42.66 respectively. Reneaud's time was a collegiate best.
• Sophomore Madi Brooks placed second in the 1500 meter run in a lifetime best effort of 4:55.93, dropping over five seconds off of her previous time of 5:01.04 ran at the GVSU Al Owns Classic last April. She is now ranked eighth on NU's all-time performance list.
• Also in the 1500, sophomore Amanda Aquinaga ran 5:07.45 for a new personal best by two seconds.
• Freshman Taky Ezell threw a lifetime best in the hammer throw to finish eighth in finals. Her top throw of 44.39 meters (145 feet-8 inches) moves her into fourth-all time in program history and betters her previous record of 37.39 meters (122 feet-8 inches) by seven meters.
• Sophomore Jessica Marvin threw the hammer 39.40 meters (129 feet-3 inches), with sophomore teammate Jessica Kursinsky hitting a mark of 35.13 meters (115 feet-3 inches) in her first hammer throw competition of her career.
• In the javelin, senior Riley Johnson placed fourth in competition with a toss of 32.98 meters (108 feet-2 inches).

UP NEXT: Day 2 of the Raleigh Relays and Bellarmine Invitational Saturday (March 30).

Lauren Ellsworth / T&F