The Aurora University men's track and field team had their opening meet of the season at the first annual Aurora Grand Prix located at the Gately Park Track and Field Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Spartan men won the six-team meet with a total of 138 points. The men had many strong performances across all event groups.
 
Eric Teverbaugh finished third in the high jump with his lifetime best of 1.77m. Aaron Stallworth led the AU long jumpers finishing in fourth place. Behind him was teammate Jarrell Mays (fifth), who had a lifetime best jump. Edgar Dominguez jumped 5.61m in the long jump which is his lifetime best by over two feet! Eli Grundman placed second in the pole vault.
 
Jalen Cole placed second in the weight throw. Cole also placed third in shot put and was followed closely by teammates Christian Carpenter and Dylan Whisenant who placed fourth and fifth, respectively.  
 
On the track there were several top finishes and lifetime bests. Danyrine White won the 400. In the 60m, Malik Whitehead placed third. Closely behind him teammate White placed fourth in a personal record. Malik Whitehead (second), Danyrine White (third), Jarrell Mays (seventh), and Isaac Heard (eighth) all ran lifetime personal bests in the 200.  
 
Junior Miguel Gonzalez won the 5000m running his lifetime best of 16:00.40. This time ranks him first in the conference this year and eighth in AU history. Behind him were teammates Chris Valencia and Fernando Viveros who also ran personal bests. Following the 5000, Gonzalez won the 800. Freshman Jacob Bohnert won the 1600. Sophomore Cormac Dietz was close behind, finishing second in a personal best time of 4:44.38. The final distance event was the 3000 meter run where Dietz and Viveros ran lifetime bests again.  
 
Peter Rudelich and Carlos Flores both had personal bests in the pentathlon which consists of the 60-meter hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, and the 1000.
 
Next up for the Spartan men's track and field team is Friday, March 19 when they travel to Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Meet time is set for 2:00 p.m.