April 6, 2013
BETHANY, W.V.— The track and field team continued to raise the bar for Franciscan Athletics at the Bethany College Invitational, breaking two school records and achieving personal bests across the board.
"It's a day to say congratulations," head coach Vince Oliver said of the team's performance as a whole. "I try to find something inspiring to say every week to these kids but I didn't know how to find the words today: this week they inspired me."
First among FUS highlights was senior runner Bill Jones' school record-breaking performance in the 1500 meter run which earned him a first place national ranking. Jones ran a 3:52.10, placing first in the meet and cutting a second off his personal record from last year. He also placed fifth in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:56.02 and is currently ranked first in the nation in the 5000 meter run.
Three places behind him in the 1500 was senior Jack Kaiser, who ran a time of 4:18. Oliver said with each run the two Baron seniors are clearly making the most of their final season as Franciscan athletes.
Other standouts for the men were junior Jacob Baugher, who placed sixth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.06, breaking his own previously set school record, and fourth in the 400 meter dash with a time of 51.35; freshman thrower Brian Tullier placed ninth overall in the shotput finals with a personal record throw of 12.00 meters.
Representing the Lady Barons were senior Emma Lipnicki and sophomore Kaitlyn Hoffman, who placed third and fourth in the 400 meter dash respectively. Lipnicki shaved three seconds off her previous time for a new season best of 1:07.21. Senior Jane Crosby placed sixth in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:33.86.
"This is only our second meet, and it's amazing the results we're getting this early in the season," Oliver said, adding, "This team puts it together because of who they are and their incredible work ethic."
Oliver said that this attitude was particularly demonstrated by sophomore Jennifer Gray in her 5000 meter race. Gray ran a 21:44.35, shaving a whole 24 seconds off her previous time of 22:08.23 to place eighth. Oliver said it was her effort that made the biggest impression.
"Jenni had a spectacular run today in adverse conditions," Oliver said. "She didn't feel well, and she was hurting early on in the race, but it was amazing to see her fight through her pain to not only finish, but to finish strong."
Another special part of Gray's performance was the support that she got from the rest of the team who surrounded the track to cheer her on in her last lap.
"You couldn't go 20 meters around any part of that track and not see one of our team members cheering her on in her last lap, " said Oliver, "It was simply amazing. I'm so humbled by her effort and by this team."
Senior Captain Bill Jones said that as Gray's teammates, he and others have been inspired by her drive to compete to the best of her ability no matter the circumstances.
"Jenni inspires me because she makes me think, 'Hey, am I pushing myself that hard?' We can all take a lesson from Jenni," Jones said, "when I see her run, it makes me feel like I'm too comfortable in my races."
Oliver said that the team's response to this is just one example of the exceptional team unity.
"We practice in different places, apart from each other all week long but yet we come together every Saturday and it's like we've been together constantly," Oliver said. "We inspire one another by the things we do with one another and for one another. As we continue through the season, there are bigger things ahead for every one of them as well as for this team."
The Barons will next compete at Westminster Invitational on April 13th.
