Ferris State Track & Field Teams Kick Off Indoor Season With Strong Showing At Hillsdale

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's track and field squads officially opened the 2017 indoor season by competing in the Hillsdale Winter Opener on Saturday (Jan. 7) inside HC's Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center in Hillsdale, Mich.

The Ferris State men's squad compiled 72 points in placing third overall of nine competing schools in the season-opening event while the women captured fourth place with 61 points for FSU.

The field included schools such as FSU, Hillsdale, Wayne State, Siena Heights, Ursuline (Ohio), Cornerstone, Bluffton (Ohio), Concordia and others.

Senior Emily Haynes won the women's 3,000 meters for the Bulldogs in a time of 10:52.04 overall. Teammate Kathryn Etelamaki came in second (10:57.81) and Kelly Babcock was seventh (11:17.39) in the same race.

The Bulldog women also had a strong contingent in the mile run where FSU had five of the top eight finishers. Junior Molly Emerick placed second (5:27.68) with Etelamaki third (5:28.36), Natalie Perry fourth (5:36.70) and Babcock fifth (5:39.57). Larissa Medich wound up seventh (5:45.11) in the race.

The Bulldogs' Emerick also earned runner-up honors in the 800 meters (2:24.37)

FSU's Sarah Utchel placed sixth in the 60 meters (8.08) and Hanna Price was sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.58). Ferris State's Maycee Robinson took seventh in the weight throw (49-4.25) for the FSU women.

The Bulldog men had four finishers in the top eight overall of the men's 3,000 meters with junior Trevor Holowaty winning the race in a time of 8:57.68. Senior Logan Hammer was third (9:12.57), Roah Fahey placed fourth (9:17.89) and Zach Mckenzie finished seventh (9:38.44).

Ferris State had three finishers among the top eight in the men's 400 meters with Nate Meyer fifth (55.01), Chris Triffo sixth (55.12) and Hunter Redman eighth (55.35).

The Bulldogs' Brett Allpow earned runner-up honors in the shot put with a best toss of 46-3.50 while junior Ross Miller finished fourth at 45-8 on the day. FSU's Cody Stillwell placed second in the weight throw while reaching a NCAA national provisional qualification mark with a thorw of 57-0 overall. Miller was fifth in the weight throw (50-7.50) and Allpow took sixth (50-5.25).

John Alberts captured fourth place in the 800 meters (2:05.64) and Hammer was fifth in the mile (4:30.14).

Ferris State was also sixth in the men's 4x400-meter relay as they grouping of Meyer, Alberts, Redman and Triffo clocked 3:44.18 in the event.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 20, as they take part in the Grand Valley State Open in Allendale.