Trojans Show Improvement at Illinois College

The HLG Trojan track & field team returned to Illinois College on Saturday for the Jim Green Classic. The team's effort was highlighted by 8 new team records and 15 personal best finishes.

On the men's side, Gheron Dorsett matched last weekend's school records in the weight throw with a new school record performance in the shot put. His toss of 11.30m placed 16th in the event. Brett Jones continued his improvement in the pole vault, taking 7th in the event with a new personal best of 3.80m.

Philiph Tonui struggled with a side cramp throughout his 5000m race but still managed to finish 3rd with a time of 15:43.62. Philiph bounced back in the later in the day by taking home a 6th place finish in a very deep and talented 800m race. His time of 1:59.76 is a new school record for the event.

On the women's side there were numerous top-10 finishes, highlighted by Cara Grinde's victory in the pole vault (3.35m). Holland McCoy set a new personal best mark of 2.60m to finish second in the pole vault. Jocelyn Bright made great strides in both the long (4.46m) and triple (9.53m) jump, with 10th place finishes in both. Eva Knowles, competing in her first meet of the season, tied Jocelyn for 10th place in the long jump.

Abbie Herrold took 8th in the shot put with a mark of 9.96m and Jessica Curry made a big improvement in the weight throw, setting a new personal best with an effort of 11.00m, good for 13th in the competitive event.

Jasman Edmond had another good outing in the short sprints, placing 7th in the 55m dash with a time of 7.77. Sarah Erickson bounced back with a strong effort in the mile run, finishing 4th with a time of 5:53.46. Heather Dixon finished 5th in the 5000m race with a time of 20:59.61.

The women also competed in two relays for the first time in school history. The quartet of Amanda Miller, Jessica Curry, Holland McCoy, and Caitlin McCoy finished 3rd in the Sprint Medley Relay (1600m) with a time of 4:54.49. Shortly thereafter, Sarah Erickson, Liz Clute, Samantha Schettler, and Heather Dixon teamed up to place 3rd in the Distance Medley Relay with a time of 14:23.93.

This weekend a select group of athletes will be travelling for competition. Carissa Eichmeyer will compete in the 3000m race walk on Friday at Missouri Valley College, while the rest will journey to Ames, Iowa for a meet at Iowa State.