Grace Track Continues Indoor Tour
MARION – Grace’s track and field team continued its indoor season with the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational on Saturday.
The Lancers set two school records and had an NAIA “A” qualifier in the indoor meet.
The men’s 4×800-meter relay team hit the NAIA standard. Isaac Beatty, Luke Smith, Dimitri Margaritidis and Kyle Smith crossed the finish line with a winning time of 7:57.37. All four runners are underclassmen.
“The guys in the relay put together a great early-season effort to secure their spot at nationals,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “It will be fun to see them continue to develop as the season moves forward.”
Heather Plastow continued to etch her name in the record books. A week after setting the mile record, Plastow ran 10:35.61 in the 3,000 to beat the previous school mark by over 10 seconds.
Dylan Felger also recorded his second record of the season. He ran the 400 in 50.32 seconds, besting the 14-year-old record of 50.35 (Brian Skattum). Felger set the 200 school record earlier this season.
In the men’s 800, Luke Smith won with a time of 2:00.08, while his brother Kyle Smith was third at 2:01.13.
Beatty claimed first place in the 1,000 (2:38.85), and Korry Hamlin was first in the 3,000 (9:10.77) and third in the mile (4:27.24). Suzanne Sickafoose won the 400 (1:01.49), and she teamed up with Ashley Stoltzfus, Julia Malson and Lyne Camara to win the 4×400 relay (4:06.98).
On the men’s side, John Green took fourth place in the 60 dash and fifth in the 200, and William Shafer was third in the weight throw. Walker Hobbs and Caleb Brown finished second and third in the shot put.
For the Lady Lancers, Camara claimed a pair of runner-up finishes including the 60 dash (7.86) and the 200 (26.06).
Stoltzfus and Malson were second and third in the 400, Rylin Bagarus was third in the 60 hurdles, and Nordia Campbell placed fifth in both the 60 and the 200.
The Lancers head to Illinois next week, competing at the Snow Day Invitational at North Central College.