Track and Field 1/25/2025 7:03:00 PM Dusty Sloan, Ashland University Director of Athletic Communications

Records, Nationals Marks Abound At Ashland Invitational

The first home meet of the 2024-25 indoor track and field season for Ashland University's men's and women's teams was a roaring success.

On Saturday (Jan. 25), numerous records and nationals marks toward qualification for the 2025 NCAA Division II Championships (March 13-15 in Indianapolis, Ind.) were earned in the Ashland Invitational at the Niss Athletic Center.

Senior Lily Dowdell, a week after breaking the school indoor record in the women's 3,000-meter run, did the same thing on Saturday in the women's mile run at 4:55.53 – which also was a new provisional time. Dowdell broke the previous school mark which had stood for nearly 32 years.

Another new school record was broken by the women's 4x400 relay quartet of junior Montana Walker, sophomore Brianna Chenevey, junior Jade Avance and senior Mia Gardner. They won in 3:43.64, which also is a new provo time, a new Niss record and a new meet standard.

In the men's pole vault, junior Garrett Baker – already the top vaulter in NCAA Division II – won at 5.40 meters/17-feet-8½, nearly a new school record but was a new Niss and meet record.

Chenevey also won the women's 200 dash in 24.28, which is a new provo, new Niss record and new meet record.

Winning and improving upon previous provo marks on Saturday were senior D.J. Duncan in the men's 60 hurdles (7.97 seconds), Avance in the women's 400 dash (55.92 seconds), senior Sarah Masuoka in the women's pole vault (3.95 meters/12-feet-11½), and the men's 4x400 relay of senior Colin Hunkele, sophomore Brian Turner, junior Daylen Madison and senior Jacob Pielech (3:12.27).

Earning new provos in second-place finishes were graduate Alena Williams in the women's 60 dash (7.63 seconds), Hunkele in the men's 400 dash (48.17 seconds), and sophomore Matthew Noel in the men's high jump (2.04 meters/6-feet-8¼).

FIRST PLACE

Gardner in the women's 300 dash (40.28 seconds).
Pielech in the men's 300 dash (34.52 seconds).
Sophomore Leslie Pollock in the women's weight throw (18.55 meters/60-feet-10½).
Sophomore Odessa Smith in the women's 60 hurdles (8.78 seconds).
Sophomore Molly Winner in the women's shot put (14.37 meters/47-feet-1¾).
Sophomore Justin Richards in the men's long jump (6.90 meters/22-feet-7¾).

SECOND PLACE

Sophomore Hailey Rios in the women's 300 dash (40.96 seconds).
Dowdell in the women's 800 run (2:17.14).
Junior Nate Slater in the men's 3,000 run (8:26.35).

THIRD PLACE

Sophomore Kara Fields in the women's 60 hurdles (8.98 seconds).
Senior Kelsey Kinsley in the women's shot put (13.64 meters/44-feet-9).
Fifth-year Chris Graber in the men's long jump (6.65 meters/21-feet-10).
Sophomore Colton Thress in the men's mile run (4:16.81).
Fifth-year Doniven Jackson in the men's 200 dash (21.96 seconds).
Sophomore Sidney Sheppert in the women's triple jump (11.25 meters/36-feet-11).
Junior Abby Wheeler in the women's high jump (1.64 meters/5-feet-4½).
Walker in the women's 200 dash (25.06 seconds).
Sophomore Allie Dunlap in the women's pole vault (3.55 meters/11-feet-7¾).
Men's 4x400 relay team of senior Noah Wood, junior Derrick Amapps, senior Ethan Schuster and Thress (3:18.30).