Running rampant

Ferris track teams prep for Bulldog Invitational

A team effort was presented in a non-scoring event at Aquinas on April 1-2 featuring several top place finishes for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs had a chance to bring the team together in the Grand Rapids Open hosted by Aquinas. The event featured student-athletes from west Michigan schools that included Davenport University, Cornerstone University, Calvin, Aquinas, Hope, and Ferris State.

Ferris’ women had two first place finishes and six women placing in the top five of their events.

Freshman thrower Jessica Pilling captured the top spot in her hammer throw event. Sophomore Zoey Hohmann also captured a top place finish in the 400 meter dash with a time of 58.51 seconds.

Taking care of the distance events were freshman Samantha Johnson and sophomore Alyssa Osika.

Johnson captured runner-up laurels with a 4:43.98 finish in the 1,500 meter run. Osika followed Johnson for a third-place finish at 4:48.22. Senior Paige Onweller earned the third-place spot in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:26.35.

For the men, the Bulldogs received two third-place finishes, and several top 10 completions.

Ryan Chute, sophomore distance runner, led the team on the track with a third-place finish in the 1,500 meter run at 4:04.99. Sophomore David Silversmith and Junior Tyler Crossman took sixth and seventh place in the men’s 5,000 meter run respectively.

Ferris received a third-place effort by junior JJ Vandenburg in the men’s hammer throw event with a distance of 157-2. Also placing on the field for the Bulldogs was freshman Andrew Rumpz. Rumpz finished fourth in the high jump event at an even 6-00.00 feet.

The Bulldogs will host the annual non-scoring Bulldog Invitational on April 9. Both field and running events will begin at 11 a.m. Schools from the west Michigan area and GLIAC conference will compete in the invitational. The event will be open to the public and will be located at Top Taggart Field. n