GALESBURG, Ill. - The Ashford University men's track and field program continued to impress their competition by winning six events at the Knox College Invitational in Galesburg, Ill., while sending three athletes to the Washington University Invitational in St. Louis, Mo.

"We did a great job of competing at a high level in a short amount of time," said AU Head Coach Chris Adams of the meet that lasted just over two hours. "Even at a smaller meet, we continued to improve our times from last week and the team really worked well together."

At the Knox Invitational, sophomore Austin Gilbert of Peoria, Ill., saw dual victories during the meet, winning both the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Gilbert crossed the finish line in 10.98 in the 100-meter dash, while senior Caleb Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., came in second.

Snyder also earned fourth place honors in the long jump, leaping 6.19 meters (20'3").

In a 200-meter dash that came down to the final lean, Gilbert outstretched Joe Puntoriero of Knox College to claim first place honors. Gilbert finished in 22.19, only .01 ahead of Puntoriero.

Freshman Christian ‘Ed' Awah of Willow Springs, Ill., ran to a third place finish in the 400-meter dash, crossing the line in 52.87.

Awah also competed in his primary event, the 110-meter hurdles. Awah finished in a winning time of 15.36, a second and a half of the second place finisher.

Ashford went 1-2-3 in the 800-meter run as junior Andrew Drinkall of Hooppole, Ill., freshman Ray Rivera of Franklin Park, Ill., and freshman Julius Oteng of Kumasi, Ghana, ran away with the event. Drinkall crossed the line first in a time of 2:00.62 while Rivera finished in a time of 2:09.21. Oteng was third with a time of 2:29.54.

Freshman Mizael Carrera of Franklin Park, Ill., earned a victory in the 1,500-meter run, finishing the three and a half lap race in 4:18.11.

With a time of 4:33.87, freshman Patrick McClain of Gary, Ind., finished third in the 1,500-meter run.

Carerra and McClain hit the track together again in the 5,000-meter run, fishing in second and fourth, respectively. Carerra finished six seconds behind the winner in a time of 16:39.83 while McClain finished in 19:34.91.

Finishing with a time of 1:02.31, sophomore Ademola Are of Hazel Crest, Ill., saw a second place finish in the 400-meter hurdles.

The 4x100-meter relay team edged out Knox College for the victory in their race, crossing the line in 44.46.

The 4x400 meter relay team came finished in second place with a time of 3:28.78 as well.

Freshman Shawn Goodhart of Erie, Ill., flew over the bar at 3.65 meters (12') in the pole vault, good for second place. Goodhart also placed 15th in the javelin throw with a best toss of 30.96 meters (101'7").

In the throwing events, freshman Joe Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., led the Saints after he placed fourth in the discus throw, launching a toss of 40.42 meters (132'7").

Freshman Jaryd Prince of Clinton, Iowa threw his way to seventh place honors in the shot put, tossing the weighted sphere 13.71 meters (44'-11").

The duo of Snyder and Prince competed together in the hammer throw as well, finishing in 12th and 15th, respectively.

In the javelin throw, sophomore A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., earned second place honors with a hurl of 46.88 meters (153'10").

With a toss of 34.24 meters (112'4") senior Brian Cummings of Clinton, Iowa finished 14th in the javelin throw.

In St. Louis, Mo., several Saints competed at the Washington University Invitational. Freshman Aleksander Jakobsen of Rock Island, Ill., set a new school record and placed third in the 5,000 meter race walk, finishing with a time of 29:17.55.

Freshman Rafael Cristoso of Franklin Park, Ill., finished 26th in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 11:54.93.

Also at Washington University, sophomore Aaron Yerk competed in the decathlon, finishing in fifth place overall after the ten event competition.