Golden Grizzlies break two school records and see 22 additions to the top-10 list at Chippewas Invite
SWAT PATROL: Oakland's Keith Benson gets a block during a game in December against Michigan State. Benson broke the Summit League record for career blocks Saturday in a win over IPFW. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmkeephotography.com
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Shannon Getchen and Micah Jones toppled school records as the Oakland University men’s and women’s track & field team competed at the Chip Invite Friday evening.
It was dual meet scoring which saw the men beat Aquinas 63-61 while losing 107-43 to Central Michigan, 87-57 to Detroit and 114-36 to Eastern Michigan. The women defeated Aquinas 89-47 and Detroit 81-70 and fell to 93-52 to Central Michigan and 67-66 to Toledo.
“This was a great way to start our season” said head coach Paul Rice. “CMU has a great facility and they always put on a quality meet. This is what being DI is all about. I really felt we held our own tonight. We are missing a few key people due to injuries and a few eligibility issues, but the kids we had here really represented OU well today. Our field eventers continue to show some great things. It was great to see our distance athletes back at it again since the end of cross country. We are still in workout mode at meets with some of our athletes, so I anticipate we will all be clicking together by Feb 1st. It should really be a fun season!”
The women continued their assault on the record book with two records and 11 additions to the top 10 list. Jones won the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 5.75 inches, breaking the record of 18 feet, 2.75 that she set in 2009. Getchen’s toss of 46 feet broke the 20-LB weight record she set earlier in the season.
Katelynne Hartmann was the other winner for the Golden Grizzlies as she won the shot put with a toss of 37 feet, 1.25 inches. Jessica Pizzini placed second in the pole vault clearing 10 feet, six inches.
Autumn Cleverley was third in the 600 (1:41.76) and mile (5:21.22), both times rank among the top 10 in school history. Jennifer Lane cleared five feet, three inches to place fourth in the high jump. It was the second best jump in Oakland history.
For the men, Brandon Griffin was the top finishers as he ran 8:47.95 to place third in the 3000. Anthony Halfmann had a solid day as he was fourth in the 35-LB weight (51 feet, nine inches) and fifth in the shot put (47 feet, 7.75 inches).
In the 60m hurdles, Kevin Luce ran 8.46 to place fifth, just 1/100th of a second off his season high. In the prelims, Niklas Rippon ran the second fastest time in school history at 8.44. Kyle Wilson made his OU debut a good one clocking the third fastest 600 in OU history at 1:24.66.
Category: Oakland University
