INDOOR TRACK & FIELD – Forester Feed

The Forester indoor track and field program got off to a great start on opening weekend. Coach Austin Roark sent a handful of athletes to two different meets which included the Mastodon Open hosted by Purdue Fort Wayne and the Commonwealth Collegiate Opener in Louisville, Ky.

Trysta Hilton headlined the Mastodon Open by piling up 2,936 points in her first ever pentathlon to set a new school record and finish second among a field of NCAA Division I competitors. She currently ranks #4 in the NAIA.

Hilton also made her way into the HU record books in three of the five events she competed in. Her time of 9.58 in the 60 meter hurdles is a new program record. She also landed the No. 7 spot in high jump (1.47 meters) and long jump (5.01 meters).

The majority of Huntington sprinters and jumpers spent Saturday in Louisville. Erica Xayarath hit two A standards in jumps by going 5.69 meters in long jump and 1.70 meters in high jump. She currently ranks second nationally among her NAIA peers.

Josey Reineman also punched her ticket to nationals. In her first meet as a Forester, she posted a mark of 1.65 meters in high jump to hit the provisional mark as well as make her way into the HU record books with the second highest indoor leap.

Also making her Huntington debut, Brooklyn Simmons posted a mark of 5.40 meter in long jump to land the fourth spot in program history.

On the men’s side, Zach Collins set new program records in the 60 meters (6.91) and 300 meters (33.96). Grady Martin and Blake Miller also toed the line of the 300 where they posted times of 36.76 and 38.23 to claim third and fourth respectively in the HU history books.

Sam Handerson turned in two program-notable performances. His 200 meter time of 22.73 is the fourth fastest in program history while his mark of 6.42 meters in long jump ranks eighth in the record books.

“This was a great opening weekend for our sprints, jumps, and throws group just to see where we are,” said Roark. “We wanted to compete with some of the best programs in the country and we did just that.

“Our program is starting to show relevance in multiple different areas at meets and it’s exciting to see the growth of the program. I’m excited for the whole group to be together next week at Grand Valley State.”

This coming weekend, the Foresters will split their time between Indiana Tech’s Warrior Opener and the GVSU Holiday Open.

HU WOMEN’S RESULTS – Commonwealth College Opener
60m – Sydni Ausberry (37^th, 8.26); Ingrid Gress (37^th, 8.26)
200m – Sydni Ausberry (36^th, 27.10)
400m – Trista Hilton (16^th, 1:03.21)
High Jump – Erica Xayarath (4^th, 1.70m); Josey Reineman (6^th, 1.65m)
Long Jump – Erica Xayarath (6^th, 5.69m); Brooklyn Simmons (13^th, 5.40m)

HU WOMEN’S RESULTS – Mastodon Open
Pole Vault – Katie Bolt (8^th, 2.45m); Damaris Tawney (9^th, 2.45m)
Shot Put – Emma Britton (11^th, 8.23m); Janai Haney (12^th, 8.17m); Madison Birky (13^th, 7.48m); Kara Strong (14^th, 6.73m)
Weight Throw – Aanyah Wright (12^th, 13.37m)

HU MEN’S RESULTS – Commonwealth College Opener
60m – Zach Collins (4^th, 6.91)
200m – Sam Handerson (11^th, 22.73)
300m – Zach Collins (3^rd, 33.96); Grady Martin (40^th, 36.76); Blake Miller (52^nd, 38.23)
Long Jump – Sam Handerson (15^th, 6.42m)

HU MEN’S RESULTS – Mastodon Open
Pole Vault – Reagan Wright (8^th, 3.93m)
Shot Put – Carlton Miller (11^th, 10.82m)
Weight Throw – Carlton Miller (11^th, 11.71m)