BEREA, Ohio–Franciscan University of Steubenville's track and field team competed on Saturday at the Sparky Adams Invitational held at Baldwin Wallace College's George Finnie Stadium. Both the Barons and Lady Barons performed exceptionally, with multiple runners and throwers breaking school and personal records.
"It was a very competitive division three meet," noted head coach Vince Oliver. "Today really showed how we fare against teams in our own division. We're really getting there and competing against other schools that have been established for some time."
On the men's side, there were some outstanding performances by Bill Jones, Jacob Baugher, Kevin LeRoy, Joey Schlueter, Peter Schreck, Tim Michaud, and Hunter Mason. Competing in the 5,000 meter run was Jones, placing second with a time of 15:02.52. LeRoy earned second place in the 10,000 meter race with 37:10.60. Schreck received a personal record in the 400 meter dash with a time of 54.1.
Baugher placed fourth in his heat of the 400 meter dash with a time of 50.23. With this time Baugher set a new school record and came close to qualifying for the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship. The qualifying time for the ECAC championship is 50.10, which means Baugher is only 0.13 seconds from qualifying.
Schlueter competed in the 3,000 meter steeplechase for the first time in his running career, coming in with an impressive 10:17.47, breaking Franciscan's previous record and proving that he might have a future in this event. Taking on the 100 meter dash, Hunter Mason broke the school record with a time of 11.77. Tim Michaud also broke another school and personal record in the javelin throw. Michaud threw a 50.64, placing seventh and besting his previous record by three meters.
For the Lady Barons, standout performances were seen by Amanda Looman in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:08.04; Jane Crosby in the 800 with a time of 2:29.24; Kailey Gotta, placing seventh in the 1,500 meter at 5:05.46; and Molly Chambers with a 13:01.24 in the 3,000 meter race. Junior Emily Kraudel also placed the school record in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.83.
Senior Julie Randall competed in her final meet of her college career after four years of varsity play at Franciscan. Also acting as the head manager for the track and field team, Randall said good-bye in a large way by setting a personal and school record in the women's javelin throw. Randall came in fifth place with a distance of 32.62 meters.
The track and field team competes again Friday, May 13, at the Allegheny College Gator Invitational in Meadville, Pa.
