(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 19) — The McKendree University men's track and field team posted a strong showing in its final tune up before the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Championships this weekend in a meet hosted by Illinois College.

Junior Kevin Witcik (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) set a personal best in the 60-meter, taking home the crown with a finishing time of 6.94 seconds. The time currently ranks him fourth in the GLVC this season. Senior Donovan Friscia (Jacksonville, FL/Bartram Trail) finished just behind him, taking second place with a time of 6.96 seconds. Senior Dominick Pickens (Springfield, IL/Lanphier) also set a personal record with a fourth place finish of 7.16 seconds.  

Sophomore Demontez McCray (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) tallied a first place finish in the 200-meter with a time of 22.02 seconds. McCray was joined by Witcik who followed up with a third place showing with a time of 22.86 seconds.

Sophomore Andrew Gardewine (Effingham, IL/Effingham) set a personal best in the 400-meter after taking first place with a time of 50.96 seconds. Freshman Gabe Silva (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon) and Eddie Sparks (Troy, IL/Triad) each posted top ten finishes in the 400-meter with times of 52.56 and 53.68 respectively.

Sophomore Trevor White (Highland, IL/Highland) posted a fourth place finish in the 800-meter with a time of 1:58.17 and was joined by fellow sophomore Ryan Krause (Troy, IL/Triad) who placed eighth with a time of 2:03.02.

The Bearcats 4x400-meter relay team snagged first place with a season best time of 3:22.25. Silva, Gardewine, White, and sophomore Tyler Johnson (South Holland, IL/St. Rita) ran the legs for McKendree, which ranks fifth in the GLVC this season.

In the field, sophomore Os Moore (Belleville, IL/Belleville East) hauled in a first place finish in the long jump with a leap of 6.56-meters. Fellow sophomore Jacob Troutman (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) placed third with a jump of 6.41-meters, while senior Deonte Andresen (Crystal Lake, IL/Edwardsville) finished sixth with a mark of 6.27-meters.

The trio returned in the triple jump with Troutman leading the way with a jump of 14.21-meters to earn first place. The jump set a personal record and currently ranks fourth in the conference. Andresen and Moore joined Troutman finishing fifth and sixth with marks of 12.14 and 11.92-meters.

Sophomore Monte Wolke (Sigel, IL/Cumberland) reeled in a fifth place finish in the pole vault with a height of 4.50-meters, which ranks him sixth in the GLVC.

Junior Harry Uyehara (Collinsville, IL/Collinsville) tallied a pair of top ten finishes in the shot put and weight throw. Uyehara took home a third place finish in the shot put with a heave of 13.69-meters, while freshman Kyle Hostetter (Collinsville, IL/Collinsville) collected a seventh place finish with a throw of 12.84-meters. Uyehara followed with a second place showing in the weight throw with a mark of 15.58-meters that ranks ninth in the league this season.

McKendree returns to action Feb. 25 in Indianapolis, IN at the GLVC Indoor Championships.