Men’s Track and Field Wins 15th-Annual Dick Small Invite

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College men's track and field team won the 15th annual Dick Small Invitational on Saturday, March 20. The team registered 227 points on the day, edging out HCAC rival Manchester College for the top spot. [Results]

In the 200 meter run, Dan Hardin-Wallace turned in the seventh-fastest time in school history, crossing the line in 22.71 seconds. Josh Herron posted a time of 23.37 to take third place at the meet.

The Yellow Jackets got a strong team performance in the 400 meter dash, with Issac Wilkins, Seth Bidlack, Josh Herron, Marlon McGowan and Keiquan Blackmon finishing in third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place respectively.

Freshman runner Aaron Bronson turned some heads in the 800 meter dash with a time of 2:02.46, which took second at the meet and places ninth all-time at Defiance College.

In the 110 meter hurdles, DC's Austin Trivett earned first place with a time of 15.99 seconds. Jordon Stinson took second place in the 400 meter hurdles, coming in at 1:05.

Justin Perkins beat the rest of the field by more than 15 second in the 3,000 meter steeple chase to earn 10 points for the Yellow Jackets.

The men's relay teams performed well, with the 4x400 team of Aaron Bronson, Issac Wilkins, Josh Herron and Aaron Demecs placing second at the meet with a time of 3:44.01. Not to be outdone, the 4x800 team of Seth Bidlack, Aaron Fraley, Justin Perkins and Hayeden Krick set the school record for the event, finishing the relay in 8:25.29.

Defiance took three of the top-five spots in high jump with Austin Trivett taking second place and Jeter Thavez and Tyler Anderson turning in fourth and fifth place performances respectively. The triple jumpers were outstanding for Defiance as well, with Jeter Thavez and Josh Herron turning in the two best jumps at the meet.

The Yellow Jackets have come to expect great performances from their trio of terrific pole vaulters: Tyler Anderson, Austin Trivett and Dan Hardin-Wallace. They did not disappoint, as Anderson and Trivett tied for first, clearing 4.32 meters, and Hardin-Wallace came in third with a clearance of 4.10 meters.

DC's throwers had a strong showing, with Josh Beaverson placing second in the shot put with a heave of 12.52 meters and Jordon Wolpet coming in third at 11.92 meters. Trivett contributed in the javelin throw as well, taking first place at the meet with a toss of 46.73 meters.

The Yellow Jackets will resume competition next Saturday, March 27, when they travel to Marion, Ind. to compete in the Indiana Wesleyan Polar Bear Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.