(Lebanon, Ill., Dec. 5) – The McKendree University track and field team opened its 2016-17 campaign this weekend in Indianapolis in a meet hosted by the University of Indianapolis at the Athletics and Recreation Center.
The Bearcats traveled a partial squad to kick off the season, competing along with over 400 athletes at the meet.
Sophomore DeMontez McCray and senior
Donovan Friscia (Jacksonville, FL/Bartram Trail) made impressive season debuts for McKendree after McCray posted provisional times in both the 60 and 200-meter sprints, while Friscia hit a provisional standard in the 60-meter. Friscia posted a finishing time of 6.85 seconds to set a new personal best and currently ranks fifth in all of Division II. McCray finished just behind him in the 60-meter at 6.87 seconds, which ranks sixth in the nation. McCray also took home a first place showing in the 200-meter after hitting a provisional standard at 21.60 seconds which is good enough for third in the country. Friscia placed third in the 200-meter with a finish of 22.28 seconds.
Freshman
Gabe Silva (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon) placed fifth in the 400-meter with a time of 52.82 seconds. Senior
Cory Berberich (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon) also put in a top ten time in the 600-meter placing ninth with a time of 1:41.78.
Sophomores
Trevor White (Highland, IL/Highland) and
Ryan Krause (Troy, IL/Triad) were neck and neck in the 800-meter placing second and third with times of 1:59.71 and 1:59.76 respectively. Fellow sophomore
Andrew Gardewine (Effingham, IL/Effingham) cracked the top ten with a time of 2:01.10 to finish eighth.
Sophomore
Joe Shannon (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) took home a first place showing in the mile run with a time of 4:27.39 while sophomore
Tyler Manion (Granite City, IL/Granite City) and junior
Benjamin Richter (Troy, IL/Triad) finished 5
th and 6
th in the 3000-meter after times of 9:10.27 and 9:10.53.
Freshman
Darren Arzu (Chicago, IL/Hillcrest) rounded out the top track finishers for the men's team with a time of 8:73 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to earn a sixth place finish.
In the field sophomore
Monte Wolke (Sigel, IL/Cumberland) finished in a tie for first in the pole vault after posting a height of 4.36-meters. Sophomore
Lafayette Waters (Murrieta, CA/Murrieta Valley) placed third in the long jump with a distance of 6.30-meters.
McKendree returns to action Saturday at the Crimson and Gold Invitational hosted by Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, KS.
