EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's and women's track and field teams opened the 2022 outdoor track and field season at Michigan State's Spartan Invitational on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 at the Ralph Young Field in East Lansing, Mich.
The Lakers displayed a solid effort at the MSU hosted meet against some of the region's top competition as a number of student-athletes set new personal records. In addition, the meet marked the first outdoor competition for the first year athletes on the team.
"There was great competition across all events and we were able to get on an outdoor track not covered with snow for the first time this season," said Head Coach Tony Filipek. "The men and women student athletes represented LSSU with class while we had a few performances on both sides that currently rank high within our conference. With better weather everyone will progress substantially throughout the season. We will go down state for another high level meet at Oakland University next Friday and Saturday!"
In the men's 1500 meter distance race, senior David Mitter set a new personal record as he broke the four-minute mark for the first time in his collegiate career in the event. Mitter placed 12th overall with a time of 3:55.39 as he shaved off over 10 seconds from his previous PR (4:05.88). LSSU also saw a strong run from Roy Bowman who was the second Laker to cross the finish line in the distance with a time of 4:15.57. Sophomore Aaron Nachazel also set a new personal best in the event with a time of 4:30.79 as he took off over 15 seconds from his previous PR (4:45.79).
The men's 800 meter race included Ryan O'Neill and Eric Somsky, who both raced in the unseeded event. O'Neill finished first in the unseeded race with a time of 2:05:42 while Somsky followed with a time of 2:16.79. Both came within tenths of a second from posting new personal records.
In the women's 1500 meter event, three of the four Lakers who competed raced in the event for the first time collegiately at the Spartan Invitational. Freshmen Josie Morrow, Olivia Stevens, and Katelyn Moore all made their debuts in the distance event.
Senior Andrew Giddens posted a third place finish in the men's 110 meter hurdles event with a time of 15.62. Giddens currently holds the second fastest time in the event this season among all his GLIAC peers.
In the mid-distance races at the Spartan Invitational, freshman Kara Mosher and sophomore Nikolas Curlett each set new personal records. Mosher bested her previous time of 1:11.95 in the women's 400 meter event as she ran a time of 1:10.71 at MSU. Curlett, who also competed in the men's 100 meter dash, posted a PR in the 200 meter run with a time of 26.19 to beat his previous record of 26.42.
In her first 100 meter dash event, freshman Jayda Williams posted a top-10 finish with a time of 12.97 for the Lakers.
In the field events, the Lakers were led by a second place finish in the women's javelin competition by sophomore Jenna Fleming. Fleming threw a distance of 41.43 meters as she was one of two participants to bypass the 40-meter mark at the Spartan Invitational. Fleming's 41.43 meters currently leads all GLIAC athletes.
In the women's discus event, Bethany Wilson finished in the top half of competitors with a distance of 38.25 meters to place 13th overall. Following the weekend, Wilson ranks seventh among GLIAC competitors in the discus.
Sophomore Noah Murray took part in three jump events for the Lakers as he competed in the men's pole vault, triple jump and long jump. Murray's highest finish in the trio of events was a seventh place finish in the triple jump (12.08 meters).
The Lakers will return to competition next weekend at Oakland University's Golden Grizzly Invite in Rochester, Mich. The two-day meet will begin on Friday, April 8 and conclude on Saturday, April 9.
Full results can be found here.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com
Follow Laker Track and Field on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news, updates & more!