WESTERVILLE — Simon Heys broke his own school record in the 5,000-meter run as the Wilmington College men’s track and field team opened its indoor season at Otterbein University on Sunday afternoon.
The sophomore finished the 5,000-meter run in 14:48.68 to finish third in the event. That mark is more than nine seconds faster than his previous school record, set Jan. 25, 2020 Additionally, that time puts the Wilmington High School alumnus fourth in all of NCAA Division III.
As a team, the Fightin’ Quakers finished fourth out of five teams with 84 points. Ohio Northern University won the meet with 152 points and was followed by John Carroll University (145 points) and host Otterbein (88 points). Capital University took fifth with 54 total points.
Freshman Aidan Henson won his team 10 points with a time of 1:14.71 to win the 500-meter dash while Evan Whitaker took second (9:19.33) in the 3,000-meter run. The Quakers’ 4-x-400-meter relay squad of Anthony Gilmore, Eric Reynolds, Henson and Calvin Walls finished fourth with a time of 3:53.58. Henson is an East Clinton graduate while Walls is from WHS.
In field events, Blake Jamison earned the Quakers six points with a third-place mark of 43-7.75 in the shot put while Henson won the triple jump (38-5.5) and took fifth in the long jump (19-6.25). In the high jump, Gilmore cleared 7-0.75 to place runner-up while freshman Chas O’Connell cleared 11-0.25 in the pole vault to finish third.
Wilmington had three individuals place in the weight throw including Joe Shuga’s throw of 50-2 that placed in third, Andrew Pacifico’s heave of 49-7.75 that placed him fourth and Nate March’s toss of 49-6.5 that placed him fifth.
“It was a pretty typical first meet of the season with nerves and shaking the rust off, but we are so happy to be competing after 11 months off,” said WC head coach Ron Combs. “I was really happy with our throwers. Tristan [Durr] and Alex [Fee] are building a great group.”
Wilmington will compete Sunday at Capital University.
