Season Begins for MTU Track & Field

RIPON, Wis. – The Michigan Tech track and field teams opened the season by winning eight events and finishing second in nine others at the Sherman Lukoski Invite hosted by Ripon College Saturday (March 27).

Quinn Parnell led the team with a first in the 100 dash in 11.21 and a second in the 200 dash in 22.75. He also helped the 4×100 relay to a win in a time of 43.45. Other members of the team included Jonathon Folse, Aaron Tetzloff and Tylor Rathsack.

Ken Gilkerson also posted a pair of wins. He finished first in the 800 run (1:56.90) and was a member of the winning 4×400 relay (3:30.56). Joining Gilkerson on the relay was Rathsack, Aaron Cedergren and Nathan Saliga.

The Huskies won both 5,000 races. Brian Stetter claimed the men’s race in 15:21.29 and Alison Springer-Wilson won the women’s race in 19:08.97. Jill Smith finished five seconds back for second place.

Sydney Bruestle won the women’s 1,500 (5:03.00) and finished a team-best third in the 800 (2:30.30).

The Huskies posted a pair of runner-up finishes in the 3,000 steeplechase. John Graves finished in 11:10.72 in the men’s race and Melanie Hoffman crossed the line in 14:03.09 in the women’s race.

Chris Schafer finished second in the 1,500 (4:13.61) and fourth in the 5,000 (16:07.17). Jonathon Kilpela finished fourth in the 1,500 (4:21.71) and fifth in the 5,000 (16:42.34).

Tech turned in strong performances in the 400. Nicholle Pierce finished second in 1:04.51 and Nathan Saliga also finished second in the men’s race in 51.11. Aaron Tezloff finished third (52.70) and Aaron Cedergren was fourth (52.98).

Jason Julien won the men’s discus with a throw of 143-8. Molly Wiltzius posted a pair of second place finishes in the throws. She finished with marks of 121-6 in the discus and 125-7 in the hammer.

The men’s squad finished third out of five teams with 175 points and the women finished fourth of five teams with 103 points.