CARLISLE, Pa. – The Messiah men's track and field team got its indoor schedule going on a positive note on Saturday afternoon, topping all competition with 203 team points in the Dickinson College DuCharme Invitational.
Logan Horst highlighted the afternoon by breaking a 29-year school record in the 3000m, crossing the line in 8:38.36. In addition to Horst's accomplishments, the Falcons enjoyed plenty of MAC Championship-qualifying performances.
Messiah topped five other teams: Dickinson College (167), Goucher College (35), Hood College (13), and Lehman University (8).
Messiah had many competitors earn top finishes throughout the invitational.
Andrew Hutchinson dominated the 5000m, pacing the pack with a time of 15:49.49. Following Hutchinson were Messiah teammates
Kyle Costello (15:59.92) and
Isaac Covert (16:00.8).
Matt Higgs recorded a strong performance as well, finishing with a time of 16:27.90. All four runners earned MAC qualifying bids with their performances.
Andrew Schott qualified for MACs as well in the 55m hurdles competition, topping all competitors with a winning time of 8:27. Messiah's
John Steele (8.41) and
Joel Rhinehart (8.47) came in second and third place, respectively. Schott recorded another top finish in the high jump, leaping to a mark of 1.75, another MAC-qualifying performance.
Brendan Provan had a strong day for the Falcons. In addition to placing third in the 55m with a time of 6.62, a long jump height of 6.68m moved him from eighth all-time in the program record book up to fifth all-time.
Messiah was well-represented in the one mile run. The Falcons recorded three runners in the top three, as
Nathan Kimmel led the pack with a MAC-qualifying time of 4:39.46. Following Kimmel was
Adam Hostetler (4:45.10) and
Ray Truex (4:52.31).
The Falcons placed a top result in the 4x400m relay with a team of
Ryan Thurber,
Jack Daudt,
Aidan Pryor, and
Josiah Zehr. The relay team posted a winning time of 3:46.23, topping second-place Dickinson by nearly four seconds.
Other performances that earned qualifying bids to the MAC Championship included
Connor Daudt in the 800m (2:05.37) and Hoyt Lechtaler in the shot put (11.73m). Daudt earned the top time in the 800m, as Lechtaler placed fifth overall in the throwing event.
Derek Heisey issued an impressive performance in the 400m, crossing the line with a time of 54.87.
Overall, it was an afternoon filled with triumph for the Falcons, proving to be a strong start to the indoor slate of competition.
What's Up Next
Messiah men's track and field competes again on Saturday, Jan. 22, when it travels Alvernia University.
