The Bluffton College track and field teams made the most they could out of a cold and blustery day at Defiance College on Saturday, March 23.
Bluffton competed in the 7th Annual Dick Small Invitational as part of their early-season schedule. Leading the way for the Beavers on the day were their field-event athletes, including senior Rick Orr and freshman Clint Dillon, who both once again stood out on the men's side, while sophomore Laurel Miller showed potential in a new event on the women's side.
The performance of the day belonged to Orr, who heaved the shotput 49 feet, 3 inches while becoming the Beavers' lone event winner on the day. Dillon also placed among the top pole vaulters of the day, finishing fourth while clearing 13 feet, 6 inches for the second time in a week. He narrowly missed on his first two attempts at 14 feet.
In the women's triple jump, Miller turned in a strong debut, finishing sixth in the event. Her best jump of the day, at over 31 feet, immediately places her among the top triple jumpers in the conference.
The women also got a strong performance on the track from sprinter Jana Hammer, who placed second in the 100 meters, running into a strong headwind. Her strong showing on the track was followed by another freshman, MaryAnna Morgan, who ran a personal-best time of 2:40 while placing 7th in a strong 800 meter field.
Other athletes to place in the meet for Bluffton were Chris Mackey (7th-400m), Jeremy Olson (5th-3000m steeplechase), Steve Borga (4th-10,000m), Roy Kaplan (7th-10,000m), Fred Yoder (8th-PV), Katie Gwirtz (5th-10,000m), Rachel Szydlowski (6th-10,000m), Amanda Habegger (7th-100HH), Laurel Miller (7th-HJ, 8th-100HH), Rachel Noirot (7th-PV), Michelle Bailey (7th-Disc) and the women's 400m relay (7th).
Bluffton will return to action at the Anderson University Invitational on Thurs. March 28.
