It didn't take long for Ashland University's outdoor track and field teams to make their mark on the 2016 season.
In the first meets of the campaign, the Raleigh Relays and the ADIDAS Winthrop Invitational, on Friday (March 25), the Eagles racked up two automatic and 10 provisional efforts for nationals, May 26-28 in Bradenton, Fla.
At Winthrop, seven men's weight throwers took the top nine spots. Leading the way was junior Jordan Crayon, who picked up where he left off following a Division II weight throw national title indoors. Crayon won the men's hammer throw with an automatic nationals distance of 66.88 meters/219-feet-5¼.
Junior Bryn Campbell (second, 65.24 meters/214-feet-0¾) and sophomore Clayton Jury (third, 63.36 meters/207-feet-10¾) each earned provisional nationals entry in the hammer.
In the women's shot put, senior Jamie Sindelar set a meet record in winning the event with an automatic nationals mark of 16.10 meters/52-feet-10. Junior Megan Tomei was third (13.96m/45-feet-9¾), earning a provisional mark.
Tomei also earned a provisional distance in the women's hammer (55.94m/183-feet-6¾), as did redshirt freshmen Mackenzie Leigh (54.64m/179-feet-3½) and Natalie Helenthal (52.91m/173-feet-7¼).
Sophomore Elijah Talk won the men's shot put in 16.55 meters/54-feet-3¾, earning provisional nationals entry.
At Raleigh, three Eagles turned in provisional times – senior David Knack in the 10,000 run (29:41.74, best Division II time this season), freshman Brandon Wilson in the men's 100-meter dash (10.61 seconds) and sophomore Irene Skinner in the women's 400 dash (55.95).
The Eagles will continue action at both meets on Saturday (March 26).
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