The Aurora University men's track team placed second in the 2016 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Milwaukee School of Engineering in Kenosha, Wisconsin (at Carthage College).

The Spartan Men were underdogs against heavily favored Benedictine University, but made the meet immensely closer than the meet was projected to be scored. This was happened due to an array of amazing performances by the Spartan athletes.

One performance that was especially incredible was that of sprinter Kalmon Stokes. Stokes had not participated in an indoor track meet all season due to his commitment to playing basketball for Aurora University, but since the Spartan men's basketball team unfortunately was upset by MSOE on Friday night, Stokes was available to compete in the meet. Stokes had an astounding performance in the 400 meter race, winning the meet at a time of 50.31. Stokes also participated in long jump and helped the men's 4 by 400 meter relay take first place and capture the school record with a time of 3:24.

"I didn't think my body was ready after playing a basketball game the night before, but I thought not participating in this meet would be punishing me and my track teammates," said Stokes. "I started preparing my body for the possibility of this meet a month in advance by doing additional core workouts. This morning I woke up, stretched, hydrated, and gave it what I had."

Stokes performance was representative of the type of efforts the Spartan men were collectively giving. Senior Brian Rudelich had an amazing performance in the high jump by hitting a mark of 2.03m (6'8), which placed first in the meet and tied an AU school record. Sophomore Bobby Cooks did everything in his power to help the Spartan men in the meet by winning the 55 meter hurdles with an NACC meet record time of 7.41, placing second in the long jump, seventh in the high jump (which he had never previously done), and also competed in the 400 meter race.

When the meet was complete, AU had 34 athletes score points in the 16 various events led by 20 from Cooks.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES AND HONORS:
Bobby Cooks was named the NACC Athlete of the Meet.
Six Spartans was NACC Individual Champions in six events.
- Kalmon Stokes in the 400 meter.
- Bobby Cooks in the 55 meter hurdles.
- The 4x400 meter relay of Jaylen Robinson, Kalmon Stokes, Miroljub Marin and Terry Moore.
- The Distance Medley Relay Team of Alex Duncan, Matt Meyers, Miroljub Marin and Dylan Powers.
- Brian Rudelich in the high jump.
- Brandon Pichen in the weight throw.
 
Top Aurora University Men's Performance - Meet Results
*AU Record
55 meter – Camerhon Guyton (5th - 6.62)
55 Hurdles – Bobby Cooks (1st - 7.41)*
200 meter – Aaron Crawford (9th - 23.51)
400 meter – Kalmon Stokes (1st - 50.31)*
800 meter – Miroljub Marin (2nd - 1:58.63)
Mile – TJ Pitcock (4th - 4:23.11)
3,000 – TJ Pitcock (5th - 9:09.58)
5,000 – Jimmy Baeskens (4th - 15:53.92)
4x400 Relay – Aurora A – Jaylen Robinson – Kalmon Stokes – Miroljub Marin – Terry Moore (1st - 3:24.53)*
Distance Medley Relay – Aurora A – Alex Duncan – Matt Meyers – Miroljub Marin – Dylan Powers (1st - 10:51.12)
High Jump – Brian Rudelich (1st - 2.03m/6'8")*
Pole Vault – Brandon Davis (3rd - 4.25m/13'11.25")
Long Jump – Bobby Cooks (2nd - 6.92m/22' 8.5")
Triple Jump – Michael Hampton (3rd - 13.80m/45'3.5")
Shot Put – David Blutcher (6th - 12.87m/42'2.75")
Weight Throw – Brandon Pichen (1st - 17.16m/56' 3.75")
 
Next action for the Spartan men's track and field team comes on Friday, March 4 when they travel to the Gill Athletics Last Chance Meet hosted at Carthage College. Meet time is set for 3:00 p.m. in Kenosha, Wisconsin.