Two More Records Fall at Gina Relays
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Two athletes ran NCAA Provisional times and two more Michigan Tech track and field records fell Friday as a small contingent of athletes competed at the Gina Relays hosted by Hillsdale College.
Jani Lane shaved two seconds off his season-best time in the 1,500 to better his NCAA Provisional time and be the first collegiate finisher in the event. The 3:46.64 clocking was just 11 hundredths off Lane's own school record in the event.
Jason Saliga also ran an NCAA Provisional time, completing the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 9:15.06, the sixth-best time in school history.
Shot putter Jenna Burns posted a new school record with a throw of 41-2.5. That surpassed Molly Wiltzius' 2012 throw of 41-1.75.
Three-sport athlete Deedra Irwin made another mark in the record book by running a 38:06.24 in the 10,000 meters. Her time lowered the record of 38:53.41 (set by Jill Smith in 2011) by more than 47 seconds. Irwin also owns the school records in the 5,000 meters (17:35.77 earlier this season) and 800 (2:14.08 in 2014).
"Jani's time tonight puts him in a really good position to be running at the NCAA National meet," said Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller. "Jason had a great race to build off of. Hopefully we can see him take another 10 seconds off have a chance to make nationals."
Michael Frahm (ninth place in the shot put at 47-2.25), Nate Hood (10th place in the long jump at 21-9) and Bradon Kampstra (27th place in 3,000 meter steeplechase in 9:47.43) were also in action at Hillsdale today.
Michigan Tech will have several individuals compete tomorrow as the Gina Relays concludes.