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Championship Central (Results)
KIRKSVILLE, Missouri – The University of Indianapolis captured its league-best seventh title at the 2019 Great Lakes Valley Conference Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at Gardner Track inside Stokes Stadium on the campus of Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.
The Greyhounds totaled 222 points in the event to beat runner-up McKendree University (134) by 88 points, which marked the largest margin of victory since former member Southern Illinois University Edwardsville defeated Lewis University by 115 points at the 2008 Outdoor meet, 239-123.66.
In the 4x400-meter relay finale, McKendree edged out Missouri S&T for second place, which gave the Bearcats two additional points and allowed them to jump the defending GLVC Champions for second overall, 134-133.
Host Truman State (78.5) finished fourth, Lewis (59.5) and Bellarmine University (44) were fifth and sixth, respectively, while Drury University (42), University of Southern Indiana (34), University of Illinois Springfield (29) and William Jewell College (20) rounded out the top 10. Maryville University (15) and Quincy University (2) placed 11th and 12th.
Among the individual highlights in field events on Saturday, UIndy senior DeAndre Bluitt won the high jump (2.01m), while fellow senior Austin Hogan repeated as the champion in the shot put (17.94m). McKendree sophomore Michael Adderley placed first in the triple jump (14.55m) and Missouri S&T sophomore Jarett Johnson claimed the javelin title (58.62m).
On the track, Lewis junior John Partee broke the league’s oldest record with a time of 1:50.15 in the 800 meters, which bested the previous mark set by fellow Flyer David Locker in 1:50.98 at the 1997 meet.
In one of the most thrilling finishes of the meet, McKendree junior Darren Arzu (14.80) nosed out freshman teammate Preston Holt (14.81) to win the 110-meter hurdles. The Bearcats opened the day with a win in the 4x100-meter relay in 41.73, and later saw sophomore Najee Sylvester win the 100-meter dash (10.72) and senior Tyree Allen place first in the 200 meters (22.01).
Bellarmine senior Joseph Drabot made it a sweep of both the indoor and outdoor titles in the 1,500 meters with a winning time of 4:01.37, while Drury junior Chaaz Ferguson-Cooper successfully defended his title in the 400-meter hurdles (53.05). Uindy junior Brian Sales scored a win in the 400 meters (48.05).
Youth was served in the 5,000 meters as UIndy freshman Nathan Herbst (15:11.12) edged Drury freshman Sean Lowry (15:11.45) for the win in the 5,000 meters, which saw underclassmen take the top four spots.
At the conclusion of the Championship, the league coaches voted McKendree’s Allen as the GLVC Track Athlete of the Year, while UIndy’s Hogan was once again named GLVC Field Athlete of the Year. Following an impressive effort in the throws ring, Missouri S&T newcomer Nathan Swadley was tabbed the GLVC Freshman of the Year, while UIndy mentor Scott Fangman was recognized by his peers as GLVC Coach of the Year.
Additionally, Truman State was honored as the GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award winner, while 12 student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior were also named as their sport’s honoree for the award. These individuals must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The honorees are now eligible to become one of their school’s two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced later this month.
2019 GLVC Track Athlete of the Year: Tyree Allen, Sr., McKendree
2019 GLVC Field Athlete of the Year: Austin Hogan, Sr., Indianapolis
2019 GLVC Freshman of the Year: Nathan Swadley, Missouri S&T
2019 GLVC Coach of the Year: Scott Fangman, Indianapolis
James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award Team Winner
Truman State
James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award Honorees (Men's Outdoor Track & Field)
Aaron Gilcrease, Bellarmine
John Schupbach, Drury
Emmons King, Illinois Springfield
Austin Hogan, Indianapolis
Dan Ford, Lewis
Ryan Davis, Maryville
Monte Wolke, McKendree
Wil Crutcher, Missouri S&T
Zach Reider, Quincy
Ian Graves, Southern Indiana
Connor Allen, Truman State
Ryan Hoffman, William Jewell