Men's track and field wins Principia meet with five firsts
The men's track and field team won their indoor meet at Principia on Friday with 52 points and outperformed NCAA Division II McKendree by 17 points. The Panthers had five men finish first in their respective events.
ELSAH, Ill. - The men's track and field team won their indoor meet at Principia on Friday with 52 points and outperformed NCAA Division II McKendree by 17 points. The Panthers had five men finish first in their respective events.
Overall, the five winners earned 25 of Greenville's points. The Panthers also had five men place as their event's runner-up, accruing 15 points.
Carson Rantanen managed to place the best in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.08 seconds and his time is ranked seventh in NCAA Division III.
Kaleb Carlson was the winner of the 800 meter run with a time of 2:00.59. Carlson led a strong crew in the 800 with his converted 1:58.89 to be ranked ninth nationally. Lukas Baird was second in the 800 and is now ranked 14th with a converted 2:00.86, and Josh Medlin is now ranked 21st with a converted 2:02.39.
Additionally, Carter Kessinger is 20th in NCAA D-III.
Overall, four GU runners in the 400 rank in the nation's top 21, and two more are better than 26th to give GU a total of six in the top 26 in NCAA D-III.
Osvaldo Espinoza had the top time in the mile run with a mark of 4:45.03.
Hunter Matthews was the top performer in the high jump with a clearance of 1.94 meters (6-4.25). His mark currently sits in the nation's top position in NCAA D-III.
Di'Mond Salmond achieved the best mark in the triple jump with a mark of 13.38 meters (43-10.75), and he holds the nation's number four position.
Salmond was also third in the 200 with a converted time of 22.78 seconds, and his time is ranked ninth nationally. He was second in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.20 seconds.
Alex Fink ran a converted 51.08 in the 400 meter dash to rank fifth nationally and he was third at the meet.
Wesley Kile is ranked ninth in the pole vault with a clearance of 13 feet, and two other GU athletes are tied for 13th. Kile had the third place mark of 3.95 meters (12-11.5) at Principia.
Dylan Webster is ranked 10th in the nation's NCAA D-III long jump rankings. He was second at Principia with a distance of 6.42 meters (21-0.75).
Benjamin Schuette was second in the weight throw with a lifetime best of 14.04 meters (46-0.75), and he is ranked 20th nationally.
The Panthers will head to DePauw on Friday, Feb. 5, for the first of a two-day event.