On the type of day normally reserved for sipping hot cocoa in front of a fire, the Beavers' track and field team was putting their toughness to the test in a Collegiate Series Meet with host Heidelberg College and Tiffin University.
Competing with heavy flurries of snow coming down on them, the Beavers still found a way to create some memorable performances. Leading the way for Bluffton was distance runner Rachel Szydlowski, who became the third female Beaver athlete this season to set a new school record. She joined Rachel Noirot (pole vault) and Michelle Bailey (discus) as new Bluffton record-holders, with her record-breaking run in the 3000 meters. Szydlowski took six seconds off the previous record with a time of 11:32, as she and Katie Gwirtz teamed up to create a 1-2 finish for the Beavers in that event.
Also turning in a strong showing for the women's team was sophomore Laurel Miller, who won both the high jump and triple jump while placing third in the 100 meter hurdles behind teammate Amanda Habegger. Habegger also captured an event for the Beavers, winning the 400 meter hurdles by over three seconds. Those two also teamed up with Jana Hammer and Katie Snyder to run a new season-best in the 400 meter relay. Hammer continued her string of strong performances as she finished second in both the 100 and 200 meters. Other women on the team to record new personal-bests included freshman MaryAnna Morgan, who took another three seconds off her 800 meter time, placing third in the event, and Bailey, who continued to improve in the hammer throw with a new personal-best of over 98 feet. Bailey also took second in the discus.
The men's team featured three individual event winners in the meet. Rick Orr won the shotput once again for Bluffton, Clint Dillon continued his streak of success in the pole vault, and Chris Mackey captured the 400 meter hurdles race. In the process of winning the 400 meter hurdles, Mackey also ran a new personal-best in the event with a time of 59.82 seconds. Those three were supported by the strong all-around performance of freshman Jason Lehman, who took second in the 110 meter hurdles and the 200 meters, while also placing third in the long jump. In the field events, Travis Lepley hit forty feet for the first time in the shotput, and both Steve Borga and Randy Hart threw over 120 feet for the first time in the javelin.
Bluffton is back in action on Saturday, April 13, when they head up to Defiance for the Yellow Jacket Invitational.
