Eagles Add Five Nationals Marks, Slew Of Wins At Open Day 2

The weather on Day 2 of the 11^th Ashland Alumni Open on Saturday (April 24) went from sunny to rainy as the event progressed, but that didn't dampen the spirits of Ashland University's men's and women's track and field teams.
 
AU student-athletes earned five provisional marks (four new and one improved) for the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, May 27-29 at Grand Valley State, in addition to several victories in their respective events.
 
"We have to start at yesterday," Ashland head coach Jud Logan noted, as there were four nationals marks turned in by Eagle hammer throwers on Friday (April 23). "(Senior) Alex Hill improved his PR to 69.96 (meters) and still sits No. 2 in the country behind the defending national champion, and I also was very happy that (juniors) Carrol Pauley and Makayla Pop both extended their provisional marks and finished as well as they did.
 
"(Senior) Brent Fairbanks had a really solid meet. I was very happy with that."
 
Two new provisional marks came from the men's high jump, where senior Cody Stine and junior Storm Elsesser went 1-2, both clearing 2.05 meters/6-feet-8¾. Seniors Channing Phillips (men's 400-meter dash, 47.70 seconds) and Ian Johnson (men's 800 run, 1:51.35) each won their events with new provos.
 
AU's improved provo came from freshman Noah Koch, who won the men's discus throw elite at 55.41 meters/181-feet-9, and that mark most likely gets Koch into outdoor nationals.
 
"We knew that we wanted to get something done in the discus, throws-wise," Logan said, "and that happened with Noah going to sixth in the country. He's just somebody that has been patient and waiting for his time, because his training has been amazing.
 
"Very happy with what's going on in the high jump. We know that Cody's still a bar or two away from where he'll be in a couple weeks. I was really impressed with Ian Johnson in the 800, in these conditions. Channing Phillips in the 400…we've had a lot great performances all over the place."
 
FIRST PLACE – Junior Matthew Long in the men's 3,000 steeplechase (9:49.24), the men's 4x100 relay team of juniors Keshun Jones and Travis Marx, freshman Doniven Jackson and senior Trevor Bassitt (40.26 seconds), the women's 4x400 relay team of junior Cheyanne Davis, senior Rachel Miller, sophomore Morgan Dennis and freshman Alena Williams (47.52 seconds), senior Steven Kapes in the men's 1,500 run (3:56.02), junior Abby Moser in the women's 1,500 run (4:49.25), Bassitt in the men's 110 hurdles (13.84 seconds), freshman Ashleigh Bowker in the women's 100 hurdles (14.86 seconds), senior Ellie Jindra in the women's high jump (1.69 meters/5-feet-6½), sophomore Wyatt Cory in the men's pole vault (4.66 meters/15-feet-3½), Bassitt in the men's 400 hurdles (49.82 seconds), Miller in the women's 400 hurdles (1:02.49), Marx in the men's 200 dash (21.82 seconds), Davis in the women's 200 dash (25.71 seconds), and senior Nick Reimund in the men's 5,000 run (15:37.19).
 
SECOND PLACE – Sophomore Ethan Tabor in the men's long jump (6.98 meters/22-feet-10¾), junior Jake Hall in the men's 1,500 run (4:00.14), sophomore Brayden Chaney in the men's 400 dash (49.25 seconds), Davis in the women's 400 dash (56.56 seconds), Jackson in the men's 100 dash (10.77 seconds), Williams in the women's 100 dash (12.39 seconds), sophomore Nick Ponzi in the men's 800 run (1:53.27), Hill in the men's discus throw elite (54.07 meters/177-feet-4), freshman McKenna Woodruff in the women's 800 run (2:21.94), sophomore Macy Creamer in the women's 400 hurdles (1:05.19), Williams in the women's 200 dash (26.13 seconds), and Kapes in the men's 5,000 run (15:37.47).
 
THIRD PLACE – The men's 4x100 relay team of senior Brenden Archer, freshman Bobby Crenshaw, Elsesser and Phillips (41.56 seconds), freshman Grace Bias in the women's discus throw (39.63 meters), Crenshaw in the men's 400 dash (49.28), Hall in the men's 800 run (1:54.47), junior Cassandra Ponzi in the women's 800 run (2:23.26), senior Travis Moore in the men's 400 hurdles (53.13 seconds), Jackson in the men's 200 dash (21.93 seconds), senior Tracy Morgan in the women's 5,000 run (22:13.60), and the men's 4x400 relay team of Johnson, Crenshaw, Ponzi and Hall (3:23.80).
 
Ashland's men and women will now turn their attention to the 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships, May 5-7 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Select Eagles will compete in meets prior to the GLIACs, however.