The Slippery Rock men’s outdoor track and field team took 13 event wins and met 27 PSAC qualifying standards at the SRU Open Friday.
Head coach John Papa said that competing at home is huge in track and field and felt his team took advantage of it.
“In the throwing events, the athletes are used to the texture and speed of the circles and runways,” Papa explained. “In jumps, the athletes know the approach areas and the runners are familiar with the speed of the track and used to running in Slippery Rock weather.”
SRU throwers took wins in the shot put, discus, hammer and javelin throw.
Senior Kyle Toms took the top spot in the shot put with a throw of 16.36 meters. Sophomore Trevor Miller followed Toms in second with a throw of 14.59 meters. Sophomore Jerrod Galloway (fourth – 13.36 meters) and freshman David Reinhardt (fifth – 13.29 meters) joined Toms and Miller in the top-five.
The Green and White swept the top-five spots in the hammer throw.
Senior Joseph Kelly led SRU in the event with a winning throw of 50.32 meters. Toms took second (47.85 meters), senior Devin Skinner took third (45.72 meters), Miller took fourth (44.82 meters) and Reinhardt took fifth (44.33 meters).
Freshman Zachary Wisneski won the discus throw with throw of 44.90 meters. Toms took second in the event at 42.61 meters and sophomore Nick Garuccio took fourth at 40.14 meters.
Rock throwers also took the win in the javelin throw with a winning throw of 52.67 meters from junior Eric Fischer. Senior Derek Carr placed second with a throw of 52.19 meters.
Papa said that competing at home takes away the stress that can come with traveling to an away meet.
“When we host meets, the athletes don’t need to worry about travel and the extra time and effort involved,” Papa said. “They can relax and focusing on competing.”
Slippery Rock’s pole vaulters took the top six spots.
Freshman Cody Colagrande, graduate Ryan Camody, freshman Michael Shiverdecker and freshman Kieffer Reed tied with a clearance of 4.45 meters for first place. Sophomore Andrew Lovano and junior John Piserchio both cleared 4.15 meters and tied for fifth place.
Junior Victor Santoyo won the triple jump with a leap of 13.46 meters.
The Green and White won a total of seven track events, with wins in the 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 5,000-meter run and the 4×400-meter relay.
Junior Jonathan Boyd won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.86 seconds. Senior Ethan Geisler took second at 15.36 seconds.
Geisler ran the 400-meter hurdles in 54.94 seconds for the win. Geisler was followed by juniors Trevor Foley in second (55.39 seconds) and Nathaniel Helfferich in third (57.68 seconds).
Senior DJ Chisom ran 10.95 seconds in the 100-meter dash for the win.
In the 200-meter dash, sophomore Hunter Williams set a new personal record with a time of 21.94 seconds for the win.
Sophomore Monte Chapman ran a winning time of 51.67 seconds in the 400-meter dash. Sophomore Nick Shrift took second at 52.49 seconds.
The 4×100-meter relay team of Chisom, Williams, Shrift and senior Mason McLaughlin placed first with a combined time of 41.95 seconds.
Slippery Rock’s final event win came from senior Alex Koksal in the 5,000-meter run. Koksal ran a 16:30.45.
With another week to practice and hosting another meet this weekend, Papa hopes to see his team do even better.
The David Labor Invitational will take place tomorrow at the Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Select athletes will travel to Lewisburg, Pa. this weekend for the Bison Classic.
