Michigan State University
ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Watt, Gjokaj Pace Spartan Track & Field On Day One
4/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Results | Live Scoring | MSU Top Times (Women's) | MSU Top Times (Men's)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A second-place finish by senior Cynthia Watt in the women's hammer throw and junior Vinny Gjokaj's second-place effort in the men's hammer throw paced Michigan State men and women's track & field action Friday in the opening day of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Owsley B. Frazier Cardinal Park, hosted by the University of Louisville.
"They did a good job, and their progressions were good and all were competitive," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Walt Drenth. "We did a nice job, and this is part of the learning process. It was good to have a team meeting and have second place finishes and go 2-3-4. It's important that they think in terms of scoring."
Watt was second in the hammer throw with a distance of 59.34m, launching that on her fifth of the six throws. Watt's mark was part of a 1-2-3 Big Ten finish as Indiana's Laura Schroeder and Nakel McClinton were first and third, respectively. Shroeder took top honors with a 62.42m distance, while McClinton's top mark of 58.43 was good for third.
Spartan teammates junior Meg Goettsch was 11th with a 49.66m mark, while freshman Stephanie Pajot was 12th with a distance of 49.21m.
Watt's second-place finish garnered eight points in the team standings for the Spartans, putting MSU third after the one event. Indiana leads with 16 points from its first and third finishes, while host Louisville is second with nine points off a 5-6-7 placing.
On the men's side, Gjokaj notched a throw of 62.98m to garner eight points for the Spartans. His second-place performance led MSU's 2-3-4 finish in the event. Senior Connor Kostrzewa took third with an effort of 62.50m, while sophomore Riley Norman was fourth with a career-best heave of 60.70m.
"Vinny is good," Drenth said. "He never really gets knocked off his rails. He has worked his tail off to be a national level guy. He has worked his way to be that level of a thrower. Every time he goes out I am impressed.
"Riley is gaining experience, and it doesn't hurt to see others doing well. When somebody is successful it becomes contagious. The way he is making progress is exciting, and he can be a national qualifier, which is very difficult to do as a younger thrower."
Purdue's Enekwechi's 64.64m throw won the men's competition. The Big Ten claimed the first five spots in the event, with Indiana's Andrew Miller rounding out the top five.
Michigan State leads the men's field with 19 points. Purdue is currently second with 10 points, while Indiana rounds out the top three with a team score of five.
"The depth in our conference is outstanding," said Drenth. "This is good for us to get into that high level of competition and to get comfortable with the surroundings and competition. This speaks well of the quality of the throw programs in the Big Ten and also of coach (Blaine) Maag."
The prelims of the 110 hurdles open Saturday's running events at noon, while the discus at 11 a.m. is the day's first field event. The meet closes with the 4x400-meter relays at approximately 5:45 p.m. on day two.
Friday's action was only the women and men's hammer throw, while the remainder of the field events and all running events take place on Saturday, April 16. The ACC/Big Ten Challenge features three schools from each conference. The Big Ten is represented by Indiana, Purdue and the Spartans, while the host Louisville, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh hail from the ACC.
Players Mentioned
