SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Alma College track and field teams hit the road for the first time this outdoor season as they took part in the third annual Bill Bippes Cougar Classic, hosted by Spring Arbor University. The teams saw several personal records set, as they keep working towards the MIAA Field Days coming in early May.
Lauren Brawt was one of the Scots runners to set a new PR as she ran 27.34 in the 200M, her first time running the event this season to place seventh. Brawt also was the top finisher in the 400 meters as she clocked in with a time of 1:02.22 to win the event by three seconds. Brawt rounded out her day with a third-place finish in the long jump with her mark of 5.00 meters. The Scots also had two more top five finishes in the 400 meters as Victoria Gotaas placed third with a time of 1:06.49 and Jordan Fox finished in fifth with a time of 1:10.95. Kaitriss DeGroft was the highest Alma finisher in the 800 meters with a time of 2:51.60. In the 5000-meter run, Alma scored the top three spots as Chloe Colton won the event with a time of 20:07.12. Just behind was her teammate Caleigh Winters, who finished with a time of 2:08.68 for second and Sophia Dech who finished third with a time of 20:17.65. Helena Snyder, Allison Wichert and Andrea Taghon all finished next to one another in the 100-meter hurdles as they ran times of 16.16, 16.71, and 17.35 respectively, to finish fourth through sixth. Snyder's time of 16.16 is a new personal record. Taghon was the fastest in the field for the 400-meter hurdles as she clocked in the best time of 1:10.58, ahead of her teammate Jenna Belmas who ran a 1:15.87. Kaitelyn Walker also ran the 400-meter hurdles and finished in fourth with a time of 1:16.98. Both Scots relay teams finished in second in their respective events.
Jumping over to the field events, Snyder was able to place first in the high jump with her mark of 1.55 meters, just shy of her personal best. Reagan Keyser finished second in the event with her best jump of 1.45 meters. Snyder also jumped in the long jump and placed fifth in the field with a mark of 4.65 meters. Liathano Ramirez took home second place in the discus throw with her best mark reaching 34.39, a new personal best. Ramirez also placed third in the hammer throw with a mark of 38.95, just shy of her personal best as well.
On the men's side of action, the Scots saw several winners in events as well. The 4x100 relay team of Jordan Williams, Chandler Holloway, Landon Jennings, and Devon Frenchko came in first with a time of 42.45. Joseph Gonzales also finished first in the high jump with his best mark being 1.77 meters. Gonzales finished third in the long jump as he recorded a mark of 5.88 meters as well. The long jump saw two more top five finishers for the Scots as Stephan Smith and Ed Markarian finished fourth and fifth with jumps of 5.73 meters and 5.61 meters, respectively. Ryan McGuire was crowned the highest finisher in the discus on the men's side with a mark of 38.24, sweeping the event on both sides in favor of Alma. Austin Thompson was the highest Alma finisher in the Javelin throw with a personal best throw of 43.78 meters, good for third-place. Markarian also competed in the triple jump, where he was the Scots highest placer with a jump of 11.33 meters, placing fifth. Frenchko, Williams, and Blake Herr all finished fourth through sixth in the 100 meters with times of 11.12, 11.21 and 11.24, with Herr's being a personal record. Williams was the top finisher for Alma in the 200 meters with a time of 22.45, his personal best as well. Will Maginity clocked in a time of 52.04 in the 400 meters, another personal best, and finished in fifth place overall. Leland Edelyn also finished fifth, this time in the 110 hurdles with a time of 18.27.
Alma will now compete again on Friday, April 12th, as they will head up the road to Central Michigan University for the Chippewa Challenge. The meet is set to begin at 12:00 PM.
