The Aurora University men's track and field team took advantage of perfect weather for competing on Saturday at Wheaton College, posting several national-class times and a host of NACC-leading times.
In the 800 meters, junior
Kyle Kayzar and sophomore
Alex Duncan took advantage of calm weather and a hot pace to post the top two times in the NACC. Kayzar ran a personal best of 1:56.55 for third; Duncan was just over a second back in 1:58.10 for fourth.
Senior
Wade Robinson ran the 200 meters in 22.86 seconds, the second fastest time in the conference this spring. Robinson was joined by
Terry Moore,
Bryan Westmoreland, and
Wes Heniff in setting a NACC-leading mark of 43.40 second in the 4x100 meter relay.
In the field:
- The throws saw a raft of personal bests-- sophomore C.J. Schutt uncorked a massive toss of 42.51m (139-6) to grab third in the discus. That's the second longest throw in school history. Schutt doubled back in the javelin in 42.62m (139-10) for seventh. But his classmate Brian Rudelich had the longest Spartan spear throw of the day: 46.05m (151-1). Rudelich, Reiner Ebarle, and Schutt have three of the top three marks in the conference this spring.
- Junior Loren Iwanicki and first-year Austen Stewart both finished the indoor season ranked in the top fifty nationally in the high jump; after clearing 1.97m (6-5.5) on Saturday, the duo is tied for 25th in the country. Iwanicki doubled back in the long jump and set a personal best of 6.00m (19-8.25).
The other nationally ranked performance came from sophomore hurdler
Kalmon Stokes, who ran 55.41 in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles. That's the 27
th fastest time in the country, but Stokes is sure to move up on the list with smoother hurdling as the season progresses. Also in the hurdles, first-year
Taylor Coleman ran 15.87 in the 110 meter hurdles for eighth place.
Stokes and Kayzar were joined by non-related Robinsons, Calvin and Jaylen on the 4x400 meter relay, which ran 3:28.29 seconds for a season best.
Most of the Spartan squad will compete at the Eagle Invitational at Benedictine next Saturday; a few athletes will do a decathlon at Lewis University on Friday and Saturday.
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