Michigan State University
Grand Valley Big Meet
Track & Field Excels at Multiple Meets on Friday
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Feb. 14, 2009
Friday's Track & Field Results
GVSU Big Meet Results - Day One 
ISU Classic Results - Day One
ALLENDALE, Mich. - The 2008-09 Michigan State track & field program continued its indoor season by winning four event titles while earning 10 top-five finishes at the Grand Valley Big Meet, hosted by Grand Valley State on Friday. Sophomore Jay Gillespie (Allen Park, Mich.), senior Lisa Senakiewich (Davison, Mich.) and junior Shane Knoll (Warren, Mich.) each set school-records, in the men's weight throw, the women's mile and the men's 800m run, respectively.
Senakiewich set an NCAA provisional qualifying mark by shaving nearly six seconds off of her personal-best time in the mile after finishing the race in 4:40.91. Her previous mark of 4:46.78 was also a provisional time, set at the Notre Dame Invite earlier this season. Her time breaks a school-record that was set by Anne Pewe back in 1982 when she ran the mile in 4:41.50. Senakiewich earned the mile title while three other Spartans finished in the top five in the event.
Emily MacLeod (Cincinnati, Ohio) finished second in the women's mile with a time of 4:41.24, also an NCAA provisional qualifying time. Junior Leah Elenbaas (Greenville, Mich.) took home fourth place in the mile while freshman Carlie Green (Milford, Mich.) rounded out the Spartan finishers, placing fifth.
For the second consecutive week, Knoll notched a school record, only this time he did so in the 800m run. After turning in the second-best mile time in the nation this season during the Meyo Mile last week, Knoll ran a time of 1:48.97 in the 800m to win the event. His time breaks the school-record, formerly held by Andy Lixey, who ran 1:49.15 back in 2001. Knoll's time also provisionally qualifies him for the NCAA Championships. Teammate Stephen Humes (Troy, Mich.) took second in the 800m with a time of 1:50.59, which provisionally qualifies him for the NCAA Championships as well.
Gillespie finished second in the men's weight throw after turning in a toss of 19.12m (62-8 3/4), breaking his own school record, set at the MSU Open back in December. Senior Kyle Strotbaum (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and sophomore Anthony Agrusa (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) finished just behind Gillespie in third and fourth, respectively. Strotbaum posted a toss of 18.75m (61-6 1/4) while Agrusa was just behind him at 18.73m (61-5 1/2). The throwers on the women's side also saw great results, highlighted by Beth Rohl (New Buffalo, Mich.) and Ashley Lawrence (Troy, Mich.). Rohl won the weight throw with a heave of 17.94m (58-10 1/4) while Lawrence took second after throwing 17.28m (56-8 1/2).
The Spartan men saw plenty of success in the sprints as well. Senior Jeremy Orr (Detroit, Mich.) shaved one one-hundredth off of his season-best time in the 200m dash after clocking in at 21.23, a provisional qualifying time. Teammate Yury Ratomski (Novi, Mich.) finished in third in the event with a time of 21.54, missing a provisional mark by 0.06. Senior Michael Smoot (Trenton, Mich.) kept things going by winning the 400m dash after clocking in at 48.24, rounding out the event-winners on the day.
Milers Spencer Beatty (Harbor Springs, Mich.) and Joe Dimambro (Fenton, Mich.) had great performances in the men's mile. Beatty earned fourth place in the AMC-HP mile with a time of 4:07.19, a personal-best, while Dimambro clocked in at 4:13.62 in the invite mile, placing second. His time was also a personal-record. Competition at the Grand Valley Big Meet will resume tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. at the Laker Turf Building.
AMES, Iowa - The 2008-09 Michigan State track & field team got off to a fast start at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa on Friday. The Spartans, who traveled 12 student-athletes to one of the largest meets in the nation this weekend, saw several great performances, highlighted by their multi-event specialists. In all, more than 1,400 student athletes will compete at two-day event as competition will resume tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
Freshman multi event specialists Cliff Miller (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Becca Buchholtz (East Troy, Wis.) helped the Spartans get off to a quick start at the onset of the Iowa State Classic. Miller took second place in the men's heptathlon after posting a career-best 5,110 points. Miller, who has shown signs of becoming a very competitive hurdler, earned 869 points in the 60m hurdles after running a time of 8.46. Miller also tied his personal-best in the high jump after clearing a height of 2.05m (6-8 3/4). Buchholtz took home sixth place in the pentathlon with 3,523 points, a personal-best. She was one of only two true freshmen to finish in the top 10 of the 19-person field and was the top freshman in the event. Buchholtz turned in the top high jump mark amongst every finisher as her mark of 1.75m (5-9) tied her personal-best; Buchholtz also set a personal-record in the 800m clocking in at 2:41.27. The event marked the second time this season that she has competed in the pentathlon.
Freshman high jumper Kevin Jackson (Detroit, Mich.) kept the Spartans going in the high jump. Jackson cleared a height of 1.97m (6-5 1/2) to place eighth in the event. Stay with www.msuspartans.com for a recap of all of tomorrow's action from both the ISU Classic and the Grand Valley Big Meet.
Players Mentioned
