Trailblazer Track and Field picks up multiple National Qualifiers at Butler Invitational

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Vincennes University Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field teams had an opportunity Saturday to take part in the first track and field competition at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion on the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

VU once again faced off against a loaded field of NCAA Division I athletes, including athletes from Western Michigan University, SIU-Edwardsville, Valparaiso, IUPUI and host Butler.

The Trailblazers more than held their own against this high level competition, coming away with two event victories and four NJCAA National Qualifiers.

The Vincennes men’s team was led by three top-five finishers in the 200 meter dash, led by Desroy Jordan who took the top spot with a time of 21.68 seconds, good enough to qualify for Nationals.

Olamipo Ladipo and Tumaini Skinner were the next VU finishers with Ladipo taking third at 22.36 seconds and Skinner placing fifth at 22.44 seconds.

This trio teamed up with Clinton Laguerre in the 4×400 relay to place second with a time of 3:27.02.

Cohen Gallant was the next highest VU finisher, taking third in the 60 meter sprint with a time of 7.07 seconds.

Olegs Kozjakovs became the second VU National Qualifier, taking fourth in the Pole Vault after clearing a height of 4.54 meters.

Jeremiah Ziebart and Jacob Smith each placed top-10 in the shot put Saturday, with Ziebart posting a throw of 12.23 meters and Smith ending at 9.08 meters.

Ziebert would also take 12th in the weight throw with a distance of 11.50 meters along with Jacob Wickman at 12.37 meters in 10th and Jake Terrell at 13th at 10.73 meters.

The VU men’s track team was rounded out by Caden Hostetler who placed 10th in the mile with a time of 4:38.41 and Tanner Spence and Bryaun Manuel took part in the 800 meters.

Spence posted a time of 2:02.34 for 11th overall, while Manuel finished at 2:03.67 for 13th.

“As promised, the new facility at the Fall Creek Pavilion in Indianapolis was amazing,” VU Head Track and Field Coach Marty Rogier said. “Along with great competition, it was a good opportunity for our team to start finding out what we are all about. Unfortunately, we were still down several of our key members because of illness that hit the whole team hard this week. The distance group was really impacted. Even those that could compete were running at less than full force.”