The Collegian

Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Andrew Dodson

Last weekend, the Hillsdale track and field team braved freezing temperatures and gusty winds to score big success at Miami University of Ohio's Team Challenge meet.

"We were cold and windy, but we weren't wet, at least," head coach Bill Lundberg said. "Weather's something everyone's got to deal with, and you do. Except when you're looking for certain marks. Then it can be a hindrance."

The weather, although quite bad, did not prove an obstacle for determined Charger athletes.

Hillsdale's throwers continued their string of excellent results, with sophomore Aaron Falk and junior Jason Stomps provisionally qualifying for Nationals in the hammer throw. Falk threw a personal record 57.04 meters for second place, and Stomps followed in fifth place with a throw of 53.77 meters.

The team ran well in men's sprint and middle distance events. Sophomore Jared Krout led the team with a first place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.87. Other members of the team also did well in their respective events.

Krout said the weather didn't affect him much in sprint events, but added it can become an issue in the 400-m dash.

"We run a whole lap, and then you're bound to be facing the wind at some point," he said. "It didn't seem that bad, because last year it was ten degrees colder and raining."

Andrew Dodson, a junior, took second place in the high jump leaping of 1.95 meters, and the men's 4x400-m relay team took third place with a time of 3:30.63.

Freshman Hans Driessnack placed fourth in the 800-m run with a time of 1:58.66, and freshman Alex Ralston secured a top-six finish in the 1500-m run at 4:02.75.

"It was definitely my best race this outdoor season," Ralston said. "I was a bit disappointed after Purdue. I went in just hoping to do better this time.

The weather affected me mentally a little bit. It always does but I just ran behind someone until the end, so it wasn't bad."

On the women's side, standout performances included perennial top-finisher junior Marta Scheiwe with third place in the 400-m dash, and thrower Kristin Donovan, a senior, secured top spots in two events: third in the javelin and eighth in the discus.

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