Posted: Apr 03, 2025
SSU M&W T&F to compete at Cherry Blossom Invitational
For the fourth consecutive season, the Shawnee State men's and women's track and field programs will head to Athens for a meet during the spring semester -- as Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn's programs head to the Cherry Blossom Invitational, which will be held Friday, April 4 at Goldberry Track on the campus of Ohio University.
For Flynn, the event represents an opportunity to see what his athletes on the men's and women's side of the spectrum can do with their focus honed in on different events.
"We are excited about this weekend," Flynn said. "Many athletes have a lesser workload this week to focus on specific events, and that will also allow them to get a break."
Along with Alan Austin's continued hair-raising performances in the discus and shot put events, Jaina Bailey's performances in throws, the distance running performances by Dylan French and the Lanoy triplets (Isaiah, Kaiden, Trevor), and the efforts by Olivia Cisco, Jessica Elick, Kirsten Evans and others in distance, Flynn has been pleased with the efforts of the entire group -- most notably Aidan Judd and Connor Blagg.
"The sprints team is running great, coming off their best weekend yet," Flynn said. "Aidan Judd and Connor Blagg have also had a good week of practice and I'm looking forward to their races."
Overall, Shawnee State will be among 11 college programs taking part in the meet, as the Bears will compete against Akron, Ball State (Ind.), Bethany (W. Va.), Franciscan, Mount Vernon Nazarene, Ohio Dominican, Ohio State, Toledo, and Tiffin along with the host school, Ohio.
"The Cherry Blossom is a good meet," Flynn said. "It's a local meet that's not too big but has solid competition and depth to prepare us for post season."
Additional
The Cherry Blossom Invitational can be watched at https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/68185907-3a50-48b2-8fab-6cd3e7946bdf.
A list of competitors in the meet are as follows:
WOMEN:
Jaina Bailey (hammer, shot put)
Natalie Brammer (3,000 meter run)
Jessica Elick (3,000 meter run)
Kirsten Evans (3,000 meter run)
Ivy Gentry (100 meter dash, long jump)
Camille Hall (200 meter dash, 400 meter dash)
Faith Kuhn (javelin throw, shot put)
Makaela Lovely (high jump, long jump)
Marli Marcum (javelin throw, shot put)
Beth Middleton (3,000 meter run)
Olivia Newman (discus, hammer throw, shot put)
Sydney Reed (3,000 meter run)
Amanda Salmons (3,000 meter run)
Alexis Sudderth (discus, hammer throw, shot put)
Ali Taylor (100 meter hurdles, high jump)
Tashawna Young (discus, hammer throw, shot put)
MEN:
Eli Adkins (high jump)
Alan Austin (discus, shot put)
Connor Blagg (800 meter run)
Luke Butler (800 meter run)
Cameron Cannon (100 meter dash, 200 meter dash)
Dylan French (800 meter run, 1,500 meter run)
Johnathon Garred (100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash)
Davin Heckard (100 meter dash, 200 meter dash)
Cody Hesler (200 meter dash, 800 meter run)
Aidan Judd (800 meter run)
Garrett McKinniss (100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash)
Isaiah Lanoy (3,000 meter steeplechase)
Kaiden Lanoy (800 meter run)
Trevor Lanoy (800 meter run)
Caden LaRue (800 meter run)
Rowen Lloyd (3,000 meter run)
Connor Lowe (long jump)
Jacob Naumovski (3,000 meter steeplechase)
Jerry O'Dell (1,500 meter run)
Walker Pannell (3,000 meter run)
Matthew Rauch (110 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdles, pole vault)
Luke Rader (110 meter hurdles, long jump)
Landon Roberts (javelin throw, pole vault)
Malachi Shugert (3,000 meter run)
Bailey White (100 meter dash, 200 meter dash)