Austin sets NAIA Standard again in discus, Rader's big points day highlights SSU men's track and field's efforts at Otterbein Twilight
WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Another NAIA National Standard and meet-winning throw by Alan Austin in the discus, along with two second-place finishes in the long jump and triple jump and a large points day from Luke Rader highlighted the Shawnee State men's track and field efforts at the Otterbein Twilight, as the Bears finished seventh out of 22 teams in the event, which concluded just before 12:45 a.m. Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium in Westerville.
Austin, who continues to pace the charge for the Shawnee State men's track and field program, posted a 166-foot throw in the discus to win the event by nearly five feet and nearly a meter-and-a-half over his next-closest competitor.
In addition to winning the 28-thrower discus event, Austin posted a throw that was at least 4.21 meters or greater than all but two competitors in the event to boot.
As a result of multiple unattached competitors participating in the shot put, Austin was also able to claim a point for SSU in the shot put, placing 11th after notching a 44-foot, four-and-a-quarter inch throw in the event.
Going stride-for-stride with Austin, Luke Rader enjoyed another strong outing himself -- as the junior placed second in the long jump (22 feet, 11-and-a-half inches) and the triple jump (45 feet, six inches).
Additionally, Rader posted a seventh-place finish in the 110 meter hurdles, qualifying for the finals after running a 15.19 in the preliminary round, and teamed up with Davin Heckard, Garrett McKinniss and Bailey White to run a school record time of 42.65 in the 4-by-100 meter relay.
Between the above events, Rader collected a total of 18 points in individual events from a field standpoint -- while teaming with Heckard, McKinniss and White to earn an additional three tallies in the 4-by-100. Rader also set personal bests in the triple jump and 110 meter hurdles, breaking the school record in both events in the process.
"It's great to see Alan continuing his dominance outdoors, while I'm happy to see Luke back at it," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "He had an up and down start to outdoors due to injury, but these last couple meets he is finding a groove in the hurdles and jumps. I'm excited for him going into the RSC Championship Meet."
Beyond the main scoring duo, several others enjoyed competitive performances -- with Matthew Rauch's 400 meter hurdle time and new school record of 58.03 in the event resulting in two points for Shawnee State and Eli Adkins' six-foot, three-and-a-half inch high jump resulting in an additional tally. Rauch, in particular, put together a competitive day in multiple events, placing 13th in the 110 meter hurdles and 19th in the high jump.
The 4-by-400 meter relay unit, who didn't get to finish until 12:37 a.m. Saturday morning, still put together a competitive effort despite running late in the night, as the relay team, with three underclassmen in the group, finished in the top-10 with Cody Hesler, Aidan Judd, Caden LaRue and Isaiah Lanoy running a 3:32.47 in the event.
Lastly, Connor Lowe enjoyed a fine day of his own, as the first-year field athlete posted a 20-foot, eight-and-a-half inch personal best in the long jump, heading up another competitive outing for the Shawnee State men's track and field program.
Additional
Additional performances from the Otterbein Twilight Meet are as follows:
100 meter dash -- Bailey White, ninth, 11.16; Desean Garred, 12th, 11.22; Cameron Cannon, 24th, 11.55
One mile -- Caden LaRue, 4:46.20, 31st
800 meter run -- Aidan Judd, 2:01.14, 23rd; Cody Hesler, 2:01.51, 27th
400 meter hurdles -- Matthew Rauch, seventh, 58.03; Isaiah Lanoy, 12th, 59.00; Trevor Lanoy, 18th, 1:00.84; Desean Garred, 23rd, 1:10.03
200 meter dash -- Bailey White, 21st, 22.76; Cameron Cannon, 42nd, 23.63
Javelin -- Landon Roberts, 18th, 105 feet, one inch
Pole vault -- Landon Roberts, 21st, 11 feet, eight-and-a-quarter inches
5,000 meter run -- Jerry O'Dell (23rd), Rowen Lloyd (42nd), Malachi Shugert (44th), Walker Pannell (45th), Luke Butler (50th), Connor Blagg (56th), Jacob Naumovski (63rd), Matthew Rauch (65th)
The men's track and field program, along with the women, will be back in action Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 when the Bears compete at the two-day River States Conference Championship Meet, which will be held at Rio Grande.
"Both sides (women and men) are looking to build on what we accomplished indoors," Flynn said. "We are ready to show up and compete in every event that we step to the line. I'm looking forward to it."
