Michigan State University
Indiana Invitational
Track & Field Finishes Day One of Indiana Invite
4/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
April 17, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The 2009 Michigan State track & field team wrapped up day one of the Indiana Invitational in fine fashion. In all, MSU placed student-athletes in the top three in six events and claimed four event titles on the first day of the scored meet. The event features teams from Indiana, Indiana State and Southern Illinois; competition will resume tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. with the men's javelin.
The Spartans opened the track events by winning the women's 4x100m relay. The team, consisting of Michelle Gay (Lakewood, Kan.), Erica Mann (Battle Creek, Mich.), Coryn Marzejon (Huntley, Ill.) and Charelise Davis (Pittsburgh, Pa.), clocked in at a season-best time of 46.41, taking home the event title.
MSU continued to dominate the track events, highlighted by the 1,500m run on both the men's and women's side. Senior Lisa Senakiewich (Davison, Mich.) set her second regional qualifying mark of the season in the event en-route to the event title. Her time of 4:23.23 marks her second consecutive regional qualifying mark in as many weeks in the event. MSU placed two other runners in the top five on the women's side as junior Emily MacLeod (Cincinnati, Ohio) placed third with a time of 4:29.07, while Carlie Green (Milford, Mich.) placed fifth with a time of 4:35.82.
The men followed the women's act and had a similar performance in the 1,500m run, highlighted by Shane Knoll (Warren, Mich.), who claimed his second consecutive 1,500m run title in as many weeks. Knoll clocked in at 3:49.42, winning by nearly 1.5 seconds. Ian Boyle (Pinckney, Mich.) finished in third place with a time of 3:53.10, while Bill Peterson (Lake Orion, Mich.) finished in fifth with a time of 3:54.79, a personal-best mark in the event.
The Spartans also saw success in the men's hammer throw, placing three student-athletes in the top five in the event. Anthony Agrusa (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) placed second with a toss of 56.89m (186-8) in his final attempt; the mark is a regional qualifying toss and a season-best. John Barrett (Coldwater, Mich.) placed fourth in the event, tossing 55.96m (183-7) in his final attempt as well, while Kyle Strotbaum (Grand Rapids, Mich.) turned in a fifth-place finish with a toss if 55.92m (183-5) in his second attempt on the day.
MSU also placed two student-athletes in the top five in the men's 400m hurdles. Jake Hamilton (Troy, Mich.) placed second with a time of 53.20, a season-best mark. Teammate Dennis Fortson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) took home fourth place, finishing in 54.28.
The Spartans were well-represented in the women's hammer throw, the final field event of day one. Robyn Whalen (Livonia, Mich.) placed fourth with a throw of 44.84m (147-1), a personal-best mark, and Ashley Lawrence (Troy, Mich.) placed just behind Whalen in fifth with a toss of 43.70m (143-4).
The day concluded with the running of the women's 5,000m run. Senior Nicole Bush (Wyoming, Mich.) paced the women's field with a regional qualifying mark of 15:54.26, earning first place in the event. Bush won the event by nearly 40 seconds and she has now qualified for regionals in both the 5,000m and 1,500m runs this season. Dan Lewis (Chelsea, Mich.) was the top finisher on the men's side, 14:32.23, rounding out the day for the Spartans.
Players Mentioned
