TIGERS SET PRs AND NEW SCHOOL RECORDS IN BUSY WEEKEND

ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Olivet Nazarene University track & field teams put forth excellent performances across two meets this weekend - the two-day GVSU Big Meet and the Pat Heenan Invite.

Max Grant set the tone for the weekend with a runner-up finish in the 600-meter run on Friday with a time of 1:21.15, hitting the NAIA-B standard and booking his ticket to Indoor Nationals. He followed that up with an ONU school record on Saturday in the 800-meter run, clocking in at 1:53.42 to break Wesley Meyer's record of 1:54.80 set in 2020. Grant's time cleared the NAIA-A standard and earned him third place at the GVSU meet.

Vince Giuliano improved on his national-qualifying time in the 200-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 21.33 to place third in a photo finish. This time currently ranks as the fifth-fastest time in the NAIA so far this season. He followed that up with a near-PR in the 400-meter dash at 48.16 for a fifth-place finish at the GVSU Big Meet.

Noah Sears, the back-to-back reigning CCAC Field Athlete of the Week, continued his stellar senior season with a runner-up finish in the pole vault. He cleared the top height of 4.81 meters, one of only two vaulters to clear the height at the GVSU Big Meet.

Hannah Antkoviak set two school records this weekend. The sophomore from Allegan, Mich. bolted to a 55.51 finish in the 400-meter dash to shatter an 18-year-old school record of 57.63, set by Abby Heinold in 2005. Antkoviak's time is currently the fourth-fastest time in the NAIA this year. She then lowered her own school record in the 60-meter hurdles with an 8.76 time, improving on her record time she set earlier this season.

The quartet of Kiara Carter, Tera Miller, Antkoviak, and Linda Griffith bolted to a third-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay at 3:48.79, which marks the fastest time in the NAIA so far this season. The Tigers also swept the top three spots of Saturday's 200-meter dash. Linda Griffith won in 25.05, Kimberly Brent was the runner-up at 25.10, and Antkoviak placed third with a time of 25.17. 

Jacey Schickel set a personal best in the 5k run, clocking in at 17:59.27 for a sixth-place finish at the GVSU Big Meet. This is the first time that she has eclipsed the 18-minute mark in the 5k in her career.

The women's throwers excelled at the Pat Heenan Invite. In the shot put, Courtney Hall placed third with a 12.45-meter throw, and Lana Krohe was fourth at 12.33 meters, while Sarah Schoonmaker placed fifth at 11.35 meters. Four Tigers then placed in the weight throw. Hall was the runner-up, Kayla Mikottis fourth, Spencer Avery fifth, and Schoonmaker eighth.

Four Tigers made the men's 60-meter dash finals at the Pat Heenan Invite. Nathan Domont won in 6.99. Ben Tavares and Jalen Dunnigan both clocked in at 7.17 to place fourth and fifth, respectively, while Davarey McClain placed seventh.

WHATS NEXT?

The Tigers will turn their focus to the postseason as they prepare for the 2023 CCAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will take place Feb. 17-18 at the Wellness & Recreation Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu