Eagle Men, Women Improve Nationals Standing At Kent, Hillsdale

In the final weekend prior to the 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, Ashland University's No. 2-ranked men and Eagle women added to their nationals marks at both the Kent State Tune-Up and the Hillsdale Tune-Up on Saturday (Feb. 20).
 
At Hillsdale, freshman Noah Koch won the men's weight throw with an improved provisional nationals distance of 20.45 meters/67-feet-1¼. Senior Gianna DiPippo did the same in the women's weight throw at 18.68 meters/61-feet-3½. Senior Cody Patterson was runner-up on the men's side (19.25 meters/63-feet-2), and junior Taylor Kroll was third on the women's side (17.84 meters/58-feet-6½).
 
Kent State saw new provisional times in winning performances from senior Channing Phillips in the men's 400-meter dash (48.03 seconds), senior Ian Johnson in the men's 800 run (1:52.90), and senior Rachel Miller in the women's 400 dash (55.89 seconds). Improved provisionals came from senior Steven Kapes in the men's 3,000 run (8:13.44) and sophomore Erin Sievers in the women's pole vault (3.73 meters/12-feet-2¾).
 
Also earning victories on Saturday were junior Keshun Jones in the men's 200 dash (21.69 seconds), sophomore Ethan Tabor in the men's triple jump (14.39 meters/47-feet-2½) and men's long jump (6.99 meters/22-feet-11¼), junior Travis Marx in the men's 60 dash (6.91 seconds), and the men's 4x400 relay team of Tabor, sophomore Brayden Chaney, senior Travis Moore and freshman Bobby Crenshaw (3:27.02).
 
Placing second were Chaney in the men's 400 dash (49.64 seconds), senior Spencer Wirick in the men's 3,000 run (8:45.29), Phillips in the men's 200 dash (21.82 seconds), freshman Doniven Jackson in the men's 60 dash (6.92 seconds), senior David Amstutz in the men's shot put (16.39 meters/53-feet-9¼), freshman Ashleigh Bowker in the women's 60 hurdles (9.13 seconds), and freshman Alena Williams in the women's 60 dash (7.76 seconds).
 
Finishing third were freshman Brenden Jackson in the men's 400 dash (50.42 seconds), junior Jake Hall in the men's 800 run (1:54.62), Marx in the men's 200 dash (21.94 seconds), and junior Storm Elsesser in the men's long jump (6.72 meters/22-feet-0¾).
 
Ashland's men and women will go to University Center, Mich., for the 2021 GLIACs on Feb. 27-28, then those who qualify will compete at the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships on March 12-13 in Birmingham, Ala.