(Lebanon, Ill., Jan. 21) --The McKendree University men's track and field team wrapped up competition in Charleston, IL Saturday after competing in a meet hosted by Eastern Illinois University.

Junior Kevin Witcik (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) paced the Bearcats placing fifth in the 60-meter with a time of 6.95 seconds, which hit an NCAA provisional standard and ranks fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference this season.

Sophomore Andrew Gardewine (Effingham, IL/Effingham) finished seventh in the 400-meter with a time of 52.17 seconds and was joined by junior Alexis Palmer (Parkland, FL/Nova) who came in one spot behind him with a finish of 53.86 and freshman Eddie Sparks (Troy, IL/Triad) who rounded out the top ten with a time of 54.98 seconds.

Sophomore Gabe Silva (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon) finished in 2:02.89 in the 800-meter to finish in seventh place, while freshman Daren Arzu put in a seventh place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.82 seconds.

The McKendree relay teams each placed fourth as the 4x100-meter relay team featuring Palmer and sophomores Demontez McCray (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon), Tyler Johnson (South Holland, IL/St. Rita), and Tyree Allen (Country Club Hills, IL/Hillcrest) finished in 3:26.46 seconds, which also ranks fourth in the GLVC this season. The Bearcats distance medley squad put in a time of 10:27.59 that ranks second in the conference this year with a team that featured Gardewine, and fellow sophomores Grant Riggs (Highland, IL/Highland), Joseph Shannon, and Trevor White (Highland, IL/Highland).

In the field sophomore Lafayette Waters (Murrieta, CA/Murrieta Valley) and freshman Ethan Snow (Columbia, IL/Columbia) each put in top ten finishes in the long jump finishing eighth and ninth with distances of 6.39 and 6.31-meters. Sophomore Coree Harrell (Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 13.35-meters.

Sophomore Chase Hagene (Nashville, IL/Nashville) finished fifth in the shot put with a throw of 14.13-meters that places him seventh in the conference this season. Junior Harry Uyehara (Collinsville, IL/Collinsville) also placed in the top ten, finishing seventh after a heave that traveled 13.66-meters.