The school record for the women’s indoor mile run fell at Friday’s Mike Lints Alumni Open when junior middle distance runner Monica Kinney took first place with time of 4 minutes and 43.24 seconds. Kinney took more than two seconds off the previous record set by former Grand Valley State University track standout Mandi Zemba.

On the women’s team, senior distance runner Eileen Creutz headed up a pack of Lakers that took three out of the top four spots in the 3,000-meter run, as Creutz took first with a time of 9:57.90.

Sophomore middle distance runner Ashley Botham also took first place in the 800-meter run finishing in 2:16.04.

For the men, sophomore middle distance runner Eric Phillips took first for the Lakers in the 600-meter run with a mark of 1:22.34.

In the men’s throwing events, sophomore Donnie Stiffler took second in the shot put with a mark of 53 feet and 7.75 inches, Sophomore Andrew Gorley took second in the weight throw with a toss of 52-10.

The teams used this non-scoring meet to hone their technique for the final time before heading to their first scoring meet of the season next week, when they will compete at the Indiana Relays in Bloomington, Ind.

Freshman sprinter Nathaniel Hammersmith said most exciting aspect of watching his teammates perform is seeing all of their hard work pay off as it benefits the team at the same time.

“I definitely love the team performances, especially when it comes to the last race with the 4×400, everyone’s on their feet and everyone is excited,” said Hammersmith. “I love that feeling, like the rush of it. People get excited because it’s just like a football game or a basketball game, like that fourth quarter last play kind of thing.”

Some athletes were given a chance to rest and recover before next week’s meet. Others on the team competed in events outside of their normal competition groups in order to work on aspects of technique that will help them improve on their other events.

Junior middle distance runner Chanelle Caldwell, who set a personal record in the 600-meter run on Friday, said individual goals and personal bests keep her motivated not only to do well for herself, but for the team as well.

“I felt pretty accomplished, but it’s one of those things where there’s always room to improve no matter where you are, and that’s one of the things I do like about track is you can always be better,” said Caldwell. “You’re never at a point where you’re like, ‘Ok, well, I’ve done all I can do.’”

Junior thrower Matt Armstrong said the teams are focused on not only winning individual events, but also has high goals set for themselves in team competitions this season.

“Of course you want to have a good individual performance to help your team win but I think overall team performance is the most important thing,” said Armstrong. “It would be great if you won a national championship (as an individual), but if you do it as a team you get the big trophy.”

The Lakers will travel to Bloomington, Ind. for the Indiana Relays this weekend, as the team will compete against some Division I talent in another unscored meet.

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