Several personal bests set at Bast-Cregger Invitational
February 1, 2025

Several personal bests set at Bast-Cregger Invitational

SALEM, Va. - The Mars Hill men's indoor track & field team traveled to Salem, Virginia to compete in the Bast-Cregger Multi Invitational. The meet took place over a two-day period: Friday, January 31st- Saturday, February 1st.

Twenty-Six Lions competed on the track and in the field. Several personal bests were established throughout the weekend. Jesse Shelton captured his third event win in Shot Put on the season. Though no school records fell this weekend for the men, a handful of Lion's came close in their respective events to cementing their names in the MHU record books. 

Highlights in the Field:

Luke New competed in his first ever Heptathlon. The two-day event is comprised of seven events. Day one consists of the 60m dash, Long Jump, Shot Put, and High Jump (in that order). Day two consists of the 60m Hurdles, Pole Vault, and the 1000m run. New established personal bests in the 60m dash (7.45s), 60m hurdles (10.74s), Shot Put (9.47m), Pole Vault (4.10m), and the 1000m run (3:05.2). New placed fourth overall with a combined score of 4,172 points.

Jesse Shelton placed first in Shot Put with a throw of 17.18m. Shelton currently ranks 12th in the Nation in Division II and first in South Atlantic Conference Standings. Shelton placed eighth in the Weight Throw with a throw of 15.02m.

Ashtin Gainey set a new personal best in Shot Put with a throw of 14.57m. Gainey placed sixth overall and currently ranks sixth in South Atlantic Conference Standings.

Jared Benain placed second in Triple Jump with a jump of 14.07m. This marks a season best for Benain as he continues to build towards breaking his current indoor school record of 14.79m. Benain competed in Long Jump as well, placing eighth overall with a jump of 6.59m.

Justus Shelton placed 14th in shot put with a throw of 13.28m. Shelton placed 20th in the Weight Throw with a throw of 13.10m.

Will Wainwright set a new personal best in the weight throw with a throw of 13.34m. Wainwright placed 16th overall. Wainwright placed 22nd in Shot Put with a throw of 12.61m.

Iggy Welch set a new personal best in Shot Put with a throw of 13.12m. Welch placed 15th overall. Welch placed 26th in the Weight Throw with a mark of 12.26m.

Makhi Edgecombe established a personal best of 12.02m in shot put. Edgecombe placed 27th overall.

Hank Bowen competed in both Long Jump and Triple Jump. Bowen placed 32nd overall in Long Jump with a jump of 5.61m and 22nd in Triple Jump with a jump of 11.39m.

Highlights on the Track

Levi Hill advanced to the finals in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.08s. In the finals, Hill finished with a new personal best of 9.06s, placing eighth overall. Levi competed in his first 60m dash as well, finishing in a time of 7.43s.

Hunter Philyaw placed 26th overall in the 60m dash with a time of 7.15s. Philyaw competed in his first collegiate 200m sprint, finishing in a time of 23.99s.

Aiden Burton placed 42nd overall in the 60m with a time of 7.27s.

Justin Kwakye and Ryder Bush-Ivanko both set new personal bests in the 60m. Kwakye crossed the line in a time of 7.4s. Bush-Ivanko finished in a time of 7.42s.

Brennon Craig competed in his first collegiate track meet. Craig raced the 200m sprint, finishing in a time of 26.57s.

Connor Cecil ran a season best 55.66s in the 400m sprint, placing 38th overall. Aizen Bell placed 48th with a time of 56.95s.

On day one, Sean Sanchez, Brandon McNulty, Grant Richardson, Sawyer Cripps, Brett Cram, Mason Smith, and Luke Capps competed in the 1000m run. Sanchez led the way for the distance crew, finishing fifth overall with a personal best time of 2:40.99. McNulty placed sixth overall with a personal best time of 2:41.52. Richardson placed 21st overall with a personal best 2:53.14. Cripps placed 22nd with a PB of 2:53.66. Cram placed 24th with a time of 2:57.37. Smith placed 25th with a PB of 2:58.30. Luke Capps placed 20th with a PB of 3:04.04.

Matthew O'Connor, Eli Taylor, and Charles Fuerneisen completed in the 5000m run. O'Connor placed fifth overall with a time of 16:00.52. Taylor finished in sixth with a personal best 16:01.88. Fuerneisen finished ninth with a personal best 16:14.57.

On day two, Sean Sanchez, Brandon McNulty, Brett Cram, and Mason Smith competed in the 800m run. Sanchez placed 13th with a time of 2:06.25. McNulty placed 23rd with a time of 2:10. Cram placed 39th with a time of 2:14.13. Smith placed 45th with a time of 2:18.07.

Charles Fuerneisen, Sawyer Cripps, Grant Richardson, and Luke Capps competed in the Mile Run. Fuerneisen led the way with a 12th place finish and personal best 4:38.54. Cripps placed 24th with a personal best 4:50.04. Richardson placed 36th with a personal best 4:57.83. Capps placed 40th with a personal best 5:01.26.

Matthew O'Connor and Eli Taylor finished out day two for the squad, competing in the 3000m run. O'Connor placed 10th with a 27-second PR of 9:13.95. Taylor placed 13th with a personal best 9:18.98.

The men competed in the Distance Medley Relay. On the relay - Brandon McNulty, Aizen Bell, Matthew O'Connor, and Sean Sanchez. The men placed 4th overall with a time of 10:57.86.

Next up: The Lions travel to Liberty University to compete in the Liberty Open. The meet takes place Friday, February 7th & Saturday, February 8th. Live results can be found at www.blueridgetiming.com