The Aurora University Spartan men's Track and Field competed on Friday, April 19th at the Cougar Invitational on the campus of Concordia University Chicago. AU finished first overall in team points with 194. “Despite a cold day, we came and dominated” said head coach Ryan Chapman. AU won the meet by 53 points.

Junior Drew Schmitt finished first overall in the 5000 meter run with a time of 15:58.81. Fellow Spartans Grady Schroeder and Nick Cole finished second and third. “Our distance crew came and proved that they are the real deal,” said graduate assistant Ryan Schroeder.

Freshman Daniel Ance finished fifth overall in the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.89 seconds. Ance also finished sixth in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.07 seconds. “Ance is, without a doubt, is my male track athlete of the meet,” said Chapman.

Sophomore Roberto Gonzalez finished third in the 800 with a time of 1:59.58. Freshman Jaime Charles followed Gonzalez in third with a time of 2:00.36. Freshman Calvin Robinson also finished seventh.

Sophomore Juan Mercado finished second in the 110 meter hurdles with a time fo  16.04 seconds. “Mercado had an awesome PR today,” said Chapman. Freshman Kalmon Stokes joined Mercado with a fifth place finish. Stokes later won the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 57.03 seconds.

Sophomore Loren Iwanicki won the high jump with a final height of 1.78 meters. Freshman Brian Rudelich and Mercado followed Iwanicki with second and third place finishes.

Next action for the Spartan men's track and field team comes on Friday, April 26 at the Twilight Invitational hosted by Benedictine University. Meet time is set for 3 PM in Lisle, Ill.