Split between the Findlay Elite and the Grand Valley State Big Meet on Friday (Feb. 12), Ashland University's men's and women's indoor track and field teams came away with five improved provisional marks, two new provisional standards and one improved automatic effort for the 2016 NCAA Division II indoor national championships, March 11-12 in Pittsburg, Kan.
At Findlay, junior Megan Tomei placed second in the women's weight throw (18.71 meters/61-feet-4¾) and sixth in the women's shot put (14.91 meters/48-feet-11) to improve on previous provisionals in both events. Redshirt freshman Natalie Helenthal did the same in the women's weight throw, finishing second in a different section at 18.15 meters/59-feet-6¾.
In the men's shot put, senior Jared Whitcomb won the men's shot put with an improved provisional mark of 17.11 meters/56-feet-1¾. In the men's weight throw, junior Jordan Crayon was third and improved upon his previous automatic nationals distance of 21.84 meters/71-feet-8.
Also on Friday at Findlay, junior Nuri Lee (1:01.29), sophomore Lydia Ott (1:02.84) and junior Sam Birchall (1:03.01) finished 1-2-3 in the women's 400-meter dash, and Lee was second in the women's triple jump (11.36 meters/37-feet-3¼).
In the men's long jump, freshman Devin Snowden (6.65 meters/21-feet-10) and junior Damani Barnes (6.60 meters/21-feet-8) took the top two spots, while sophomore Clayton Jury (18.29 meters/60-feet-0¼) and Whitcomb did the same in the men's weight throw.
Placing second in their respective events were junior Shelby Jordan in the women's 200 dash (26.64 seconds), junior Victoria Beverly in the women's 60 hurdles (9.07 seconds), sophomore Marie Hammer in the women's high jump (1.43 meters/4-feet-8¼), senior Meghan Cunningham in the women's pole vault (3.45 meters/11-feet-3¾) and sophomore Isabella Stoll in the women's long jump (5.39 meters/17-feet-8¼).
Earning third-place finishes were sophomore Hannah Bartlome in the women's long jump (5.38 meters/17-feet-8), senior Jamie Sindelar in the women's shot put (16.20 meters/53-feet-1¾), junior Columbus Millet in the men's 400 dash (52.79 seconds), Snowden in the men's 60 hurdles (8.37 seconds), junior Trent Balduff in the men's pole vault (4.48 meters/14-feet-8¼) and junior Jamie Hence in the men's triple jump (13.08 meters/42-feet-11).
Ashland's women's 4x400 relay teams each went 1-2, crossing in 4:16.68 and 4:20.53, respectively.
At GVSU on Friday, the Eagle women picked up two more provisional efforts. Junior Marlecia Holston placed second in the triple jump (11.97 meters/39-feet-3¼), while the 4x400-meter relay team of sophomore Haley Gregory, senior Lauren Ellsworth, junior Tiarra Kick and sophomore Irene Skinner crossed the finish line in 3:51.31 to place seventh.
Skinner also improved upon a previous provisional time in the 400 dash, placing sixth in 56.07 seconds.
Ashland's men and women will go to the Kent Tune Up on Saturday, Feb. 20 for their last regular-season action before the 2016 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, Feb. 27-28 in Tiffin, Ohio.
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