TRACK & FIELD

Several individual performances highlighted the outdoor track and field season opener for the Foresters with Brooks Gerke topping the list.

The senior pole vaulter not only broke the school record at the 27th annual Polar Bear Invitational hosted by Indiana Wesleyan on Friday, he also punched his ticket to the 2018 NAIA National Championships by hitting the B Standard in pole vault with his leap of 4.60 meters (15-01.25).

Gerke moved from fifth to first in the Huntington history books by topping Mark Green’s record of 15 feet dating back to 1993.

Avniel Barrow took first in the 100 meters by clocking in at 11.07, the ninth fastest time in Huntington history. He also ran to a second place finish in the 200 meters behind teammate Peyton Depriest who turned in a 22.39 for first place.

Depriest ran a sub-50 second 400 meters by crossing the line in 49.84. Only four other Foresters in program history have clocked a faster time.

Bradey Gerke’s second jump in triple jump landed him a mark of 12.40 meters (40-08.25 feet) good for fourth to round out the HU men’s top five finishes.

Nicole Pennington logged the HU women’s only top five finish by claiming third place in the 100 meters in 12.83.

Franklin College’s Grizzly Invitational on April 7 is the next stop of the Foresters.