RedStorm's Jenkins sets school record in win at OU
Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Tyler Jenkins set a new school record in the men's 3,000-meter run and gave the University of Rio Grande one of its two individual first-place showings and one of its 28 Top 10 outings as a team at Saturday's Cherry Blossom Invitational hosted by Ohio University at the Goldsboro Track in Athens, Ohio.
Jenkins, a sophomore from Barnesville, Ohio, took top honors in the 3,000 with a time of 8:41.36. Two of his teammates - junior Danuel Persinger (Bidwell, OH) and freshman Kasy Science (Marietta, OH) - also finished in the Top 10 in the event, with Persinger placing seventh in a time of 8:54.62 and Science taking 10th place with a mark of 9:01.63.
The times of Persinger and Science ranked in the top five all-time in the event at Rio Grande.
Rio's other win on the day came from senior Kyle Lightner (Peebles, OH) in the javelin throw with an effort of 48.45m. He also finished fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:55.90.
Three RedStorm representatives had a trio of Top 10 performances.
Sophomore Daunevyn Woodson (Charleston, WV) was second in the long jump with a leap of 6.71m, fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.52 and seventh in the 100-meter dash after crossing in 11.34.
Sophomore Hunter Blagg (Pedro, OH) placed third in the triple jump after an effort of 12.09m, while placing sixth in the pole vault (3.45m) and 10th in the long jump (5.92m).
Junior Andrew Skaggs (Minford, OH) took fourth place in the triple jump with a mark of 12.08m, while finishing eighth in both the 110-meter hurdles (17.02) and long jump (6.08m).
The RedStorm's other individual showings of note came from senior Chase McClay (McDermott, OH), who was the runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.89; freshman Rowen Gerlach (New Haven, WV), who placed third in the shot put with a toss of 14.89m; freshman JJ Larue (Chillicothe, OH), who was fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:54.99; freshman Teddy Jencson (Baltimore, OH), who was fifth in the 1,500-meter run after finishing in 4:00.38; freshman Victor Day (Pedro, OH), who finished sixth in both the triple jump (11.95m) and high jump (1.75m); Jenkins, who was seventh in the 1,500 with a time of 4:01.44; junior Eric Weber (Bidwell, OH), who grabbed seventh place in the hammer throw with a heave covering 46.63m; freshman Ashton Beverly (Chillicothe, OH), who was eighth in the 1,500 after crossing in 4:01.57; junior Marshall Jackson (Zanesfield, OH), who was eighth in the hammer throw at 45.25m; freshman Ethan Strausbaugh (Chillicothe, OH), who finished eighth in the javelin with an effort of 35.94m; and freshman Zach Whitley (Wheelersburg, OH), who was 10th in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:22.16.
Rio's remaining Top 10 finishes came from a pair of relay units.
The 4x100 relay team, comprised of Blagg, Woodson, freshman Brayden Adams (Ironton, OH) and junior Jorden Williams (Springfield, OH), finished fifth in a time of 45.18.
The 4x400 squad, which included Adams, freshman Jayden Dunlap (Gallipolis, OH), freshman Nate Taylor (Corning, OH) and freshman Garrett Fister (Harrodsburg, KY), was eighth after crossing in 3:49.53.
As a team, Rio Grande tallied 95 points and was third among the 11 participating schools. Cedarville University won the team title with 150 points, while West Liberty was second with 106.
Rio also had a participant in the 5,000-meter race walk at the Electric City Invitational hosted by Anderson University in Anderson, S.C.
AJ Gruttadauro, a graduate senior from Brockport, N.Y., met the "B" qualifying standard for the upcoming NAIA National Championships by finishing second in a time of 26:51.12. He had already qualified for the nationals in the event.
The 72nd Annual NAIA National Championships are set for May 22-24, at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.
Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action at the River States Conference Championships, which are set for April 26-27 in Pittsburgh, Pa.