Postema Breaks Record As Yellow Jackets Take Second

FRANKLIN, Ind. – Junior Tom Postema set the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Championship record in the discus as his efforts helped propel the men's track and field team to a second-place finish. [Results]

Postema's throw of 180-04.00 claimed the discus, and All-HCAC honors, over his nearest competitor by 16 feet, and broke the previous HCAC record of 162-07.90 held by Colin Smith. Postema's toss also breaks his Defiance College school record and vaults him up to second in the nation.

Joining Postema with All-HCAC accolades was freshman Troy Parrett. Parrett won the 800-meter run, the same event he won at the All-Ohio Championships, with a time of 1:56.10. Defiance picked up major points in the event as junior Joe Davis took third-place in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:58.37. Davis barely missed First Team All-HCAC honors by finishing the 1500-meter run in second place at 4:06.48.

Also adding a second-place finish was Kyle Tietje in the high jump with a mark of 6-03.40. The Yellow Jackets also got an eighth-place result in the high jump from sophomore Ben Schwarzman with a clearance of 5-07.75.

Senior Justin Perkins and freshman Clayvon Finch both produced fourth-place finishes. Perkins, who won the 3000-meter steeplechase on Friday, added a fourth place in the 5000-meter run by crossing the line at 15:40.76. Finch earned fourth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.86.

Finch combined with freshman John Bechard, freshman Reggie Neal and junior Dan Hardin-Wallace to take fourth in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 43.60. Neal, the HCAC triple jump champion, brought home a seventh-place result in the long jump with a leap of 20-10.75.

Davis and Parrett were joined by freshman Ryan Johnston and sophomore Madison Murphy to claim fourth in the 4x400-meter relay at 3:30.74. Junior Hayden Krick finished the day for Defiance with a seventh-place time of 15:55.02 in the 5000-meter run.

The Yellow Jackets finished the meet with four athletes earning All-HCAC awards. Postema was the discus and hammer throw champion. Perkins won the steeplechase, Neal topped the leaderboard in the triple jump and Parrett won the 800-meter run. Postema and Neal both set new Defiance College records with their performances.

Other notable results from Friday include Hardin-Wallace claiming second in the pole vault at 15-05.50. Johnston was seventh in the pole vault at 13-05.25. Senior Josh Beaverson took fourth place in the hammer throw and eighth in the shot put. Krick was fourth in the 10,000-meter run, while sophomore Jacob Arnold had an eight-place result in the hammer throw. Senior Aaron Fraley picked up a seventh-place finish in the 3000-meter steeplechase.

Rose-Hulman won the team title with 208 points. Defiance finished with 129 points.

Defiance will compete again on Thursday, May 10 at the Dr. Keeler Invitational held in Naperville, Illinois. The meet is scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm.