ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - The Ashford University men's track and field program kicked off the 2010 outdoor campaign with a bang on Friday, fending off the chilly weather and winning four individual events while placing second as a team at the Augustana Early Spring Opener.
Freshman hurdler Christian Awah of Willow Springs, Ill., cruised to victories in the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles. With a time of 15.31, he was a mere .06 seconds away from provisionally qualifying for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 110s.
Awah followed up that performance with his second victory of the day, running a time of 55.46 in the 400-meter hurdles. Senior Franklin Barnes of Chicago placed second in the 110s and fifth in the 400s.
Not only did the weather temperatures fall throughout the meet, but so did three school records. Freshman Austin Gilbert of Peoria, Ill., was off to a ‘quick' start to the outdoor season after setting new outdoor school records in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Gilbert placed second in the 200 with a personal record and school record breaking time of 22.12. His time was just off of the national meet provisional qualifying time of 21.92 as well.
Gilbert crossed the finish line for the 100-meter dash in 10.98 - another outdoor school record and good enough to place third in the meet.
Gilbert, Awah, Barnes, and Caleb Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., collectively ran the 4x100 meter relay, finishing in second place with a time of 43.36.
Sophomore A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., began the outdoor season by picking up where he left off the indoor season, clearing 6-4 (1.93m) to win the high jump.
Snyder placed second in the long jump, leaping 6.34 meters (20-9) to secure eight points for the Saints.
For the men's throwers, freshman Spencer Touchie of Hometown, Ill., placed the highest for the Saints in the hammer throw, launching the hammer to a new school record distance of 37.69 meters (123' 8") to place 11th. Joe Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., and Jaryd Prince of Clinton, Iowa placed 13th and 15th respectively in the event as well. Joe Snyder took fourth place honors in the discus throw with a toss of 135-7 while sophomore Aaron Yerk of Belvidere, Ill., placed eighth.
Junior Andrew Drinkall of Hooppole, Ill., placed second in the 800-meter run (2:00.40) and joined Awah, Gilbert, and Barnes for the 4x400 meter relay. With a time of 3:26, they placed second only behind the Augustana relay team to close the meet.
"We were able to produce several solid performances on a very short week after long break," AU Head Coach Chris Adams said. "We were excited with the results."
The Saints return to the Augustana track next weekend for the Viking Olympics in Rock Island, Ill.
