Oiler Track and Field kicks off season at home

By Jordyn Willis and Alyssa Grevenkamp
@willisjordyn                 @Gbabyy20

The University of Findlay’s Malcolm Athletic Center was home to the Northwest Ohio Invitational on Friday, Jan. 15 as the Oiler men’s and women’s Track and Field teams competed against 11 other schools.

For the women’s team, Lydia Guagenti, senior, took second place in the high jump after she cleared 5’07.75″ as well as second in the long jump with a 17’02.75″. Samantha Grippe, senior, took second place in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:16.92, and Maud Sanmiquel, senior, finished in 42.29 to earn first place in the 300 meter dash.

“I think in general it went pretty well,” said Laura Hernandez, sophomore track and field athlete. “We are in the beginning of the season and people are getting in shape but we still need to work more.”

Hernandez ran the 4×400 relay with Sanmiquel, sophomore Milani Glass, and freshman Madison Stechshulte. They earned fourth place with a time of 4:08.41.

“I did the 60, which is not usually my event, the 400, and the 4×400,” said Hernandez. “I did a good time for now in the 60 and 400 but I still need to improve them.”

As the events carried into the night, Hernandez said it the athletes seemed to run out of steam.

“Everyone was really tired to run at 11:40 p.m.,” said Hernandez.

The women’s team finished second out of the 11 teams that competed, with 121 points.

As for the men’s team, in the long jump, Alexander Zolotoglavyy, junior, received second place with a jump of 23’11.00″, and Michael Bruce, sophomore, earned third with a jump of 23’10.75″.

Sophomore Trey Everett earned fourth place in the long jump with 22’08.00″ and also won the high jump with a leap of 6’07.00″.

In the 400 meter dash, George Effah, freshman, won with a time of 49.57. In the 800 meter dash, Sergi Torres, sophomore, won with a time of 1:57.69.

Derek Collins, junior, finished in second place in the 300 meter dash with a time of 36.09 and freshman Zach Jellison, also competing in the 300 meter dash, finished sixth with a time of 38.01.

In the pole vault event, Derek Spindler, senior, came away with fourth place by clearing 14’11.00″.

The men’s team also finished second out of the 11 teams, with 108.50 points.

The Oiler athletes will bring the heat in Tiffin on Saturday, Jan. 23 as they compete in the Tiffin Dragon Open.