WESTERVILLE – The Wilmington track and field teams both finished third at the April Fools Invitational at Otterbein’s Memorial Stadium.
The men racked up multiple victories as well as a list of top five finishes on the day. Running alone ahead of the pack, Ryan Honkomp secured the victory in the 5,000-meter run covering ground in 16:16.78. Austin Wampler, also in the race, took second place after breaking away from the group late in the race.
Evan Whitaker came away with the win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:01.10). Shortly after, the Quakers sent Max Queen, Anthony Gilmore, David Wahl and Calvin Walls to the line in the 4×100 where they took second.
The team had two top five finishes in the 800-meter run by freshman duo Aidan Henson (second) and Eric Reynolds (fifth). Simon Heys ran in a hot heat in the 1,500-meter run and placed fourth.
The 4×400 squad of Henson, Gilmore, David Wahl and Reynolds ran a season best 3:35.05 and took third place in a race that was neck and neck down to the wire.
The final win of the day for the squad was earned through a 49-1.9 triple jump by Queen, also earning second in long jump. Gilmore took second in high jump.
The throw squad had great performances throughout the day with multiple athletes scoring in multiple events. In discus, Blake Jamison threw himself into second place (141-5.2) while Nate Marcum came in fifth. Freshman Chas O’Connell placed third in the javelin throw. The trio of Joe Shuga (second), Marcum (third) and Andrew Pacifico (sixth) all scored in the hammer throw, while Jamison and Shuga doubled up and scored in shot put as well.
The women secured victory in three events, but none more impressive than the efforts by senior Kayli Sullivan. After shining all indoor season, Sullivan claimed the school record and the first-place finish in the hammer throw (165-11.7) then took second in the shot put.
Milena Wahl led the women in the 5,000-meter run from the moment the gun shot off. She ran away with the win in a time of 19:33.39. Savannah Rhodes finished fifth. Senior Emma Burke continued her hot streak in her final season with the squad, hurdling into a first-place finish in the 400-meter event (1:07.41).
The final victory on the day came from freshman Megan Roell in the discus throw. In a field full of freshmen, Roell dominated with a toss of 101-6.5 as she was one of two to break the triple digit mark.
Madison Dietz jumped her way into second place in long jump and Jordan Snarr placed sixth in high jump.
To close out the day for the team, Dietz took fifth in the 100-meter dash, freshman Lily Williford snagged a couple fifth place finishes in the 100-meter hurdles and pole vault, and Miranda Gibson placed fourth in the 400-meter dash.
Wilmington travels to the home of Ohio Northern University in Ada next weekend for more Ohio Athletic Conference action.
