Thunder Track Headlines

05.05 / Dill Named All-MIAA Most Valuable Trackster

After running to two MIAA Field Day titles, Tri-State’s Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) has been named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Trackster. Calvin College’s Ryan Jensen was named the Most Valuable Field Performer.

Dill became the champion in the 400 meter dash with a time of 48.49 and the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.46. The 14.46 in the 110 meter hurdles ties the MIAA mark set by Calvin’s Phil Sikkenga in 2001.

In addition to his two titles, Dill also finished third in the 200 meter dash and teamed with Mike Sobieraj (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Park), Austin Hamsher (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood), and Max Schaffer (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Central) in the 4x400 meter relay for a second place finish.

The relay team of Schaffer, Dill, Sobieraj, and Hamsher also combined for the 4x100 meter relay and finished fourth with a time of 43.00.

05.02 / Dill Runs to Two MIAA Field Day Titles

Alma College was host to the 117th Annual MIAA Field Day. The Tri-State men finished in fifth place with 63 points. The TSU women scored six points and finished seventh.

Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) highlighted the TSU effort by coming home with two championship titles. Dill became the champion in the 400 meter dash with a time of 48.49 and the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.46. The 14.46 in the 110 meter hurdles ties the MIAA mark set by Calvin’s Phil Sikkenga in 2001.

In addition to his two titles, Dill also finished third in the 200 meter dash and teamed with Mike Sobieraj (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Park), Austin Hamsher (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood), and Max Schaffer (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Central) in the 4x400 meter relay for a second place finish.

The relay team of Schaffer, Dill, Sobieraj, and Hamsher also combined for the 4x100 meter relay and finished fourth with a time of 43.00.

Matt Scudder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Central) put together a strong day with a fourth place in the high jump with a leap of 1.93 meters and a fifth in the 110 meter hurdles in a time of 15.64.

Justin Kowalski (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) brought home a fourth in the 5000 meter run with a time of 15:53.62 and a seventh place in the 10000 meter run in a time of 33:33.63.

Hamsher, Sobieraj, Logan Harvey (Hope, Ind./Hauser), and Tim Murray (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) earned seventh place finishes. Hamsher finished the 400 meter hurdles in a time of 59.22 for seventh. Sobieraj was seventh in the triple jump with a jump of 12.29 meters. Harvey was seventh in the discus with a throw of 40.10 meters. Murray took home seventh in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 10:09.54.

Chelsi Morey (Grand Blanc, Mich./Lake Fenton) ran to seventh in the 800 meter run in a time of 2:28.61. The TSU women’s relay teams finished seventh in both events. The 4x400 meter relay team of Morey, Megan Rowe (Angola, Ind./Angola), Courtney Naveken (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer), and Kara Hershberger (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) completed the run in 4:46.92. Samantha Kumfer (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City), Brittney Witkiewicz (Orland Hills, Ill./Victor S. Andrews), Stephanie Hobbs (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll), and Bridget Brown (Newbury, Ohio/Newbury) teamed to complete the 4x100 relay in 56.82.

04.26 / Men’s Track Competes in 99th Drake Relays

In front of a crowd of 14,457 people and one of the two biggest track meets in the nation, the Thunder men’s track program placed 8th overall and 3rd amongst division III programs in the Drake Relays this past weekend, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. In the second heat for the 4x200 meter relay, Tri-State placed second with a time of 1:29.58, less then 3 seconds away from first. The relay team included senior Mike Sobieraj (Winter Spring, Fla./Winter Park), junior Kerry Radosevich (Roanoke, Ind./Huntington North) and sophomores Austin Hamsher (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) and Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side). In the finals of the same relay, the Tri-State group placed 8th overall, with a time of 1:29.58.

04.26 / Men’s Track Competes in Kip Janvrin Open

The Kip Janvrin Open, which was held in Indianola, Iowa, featured four members of the men’s track program competing. Tri-State sophomore Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) placed 12th out of 37 in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.58, just .01 shy of 11th. TSU senior Mike Sobieraj (Winter Spring, Fla./Winter Park) placed 9th out of 11 in the triple jump with 11.77m, while teammate Logan Harvey (Hope, Ind./Hauser) placed 36th out of 50 with a discus throw of 35.85m. Sophomore Max Shaefer (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Central) place 20th out of 40 in the 400 meter dash with a time of 53.52.

04.19 / TSU Track & Field Participates in Spartan Classic

Manchester College hosted the second annual Spartan Classic Meet on Saturday, April 19. The meet did not produce team scores only individual performances.

Tim Murray (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) and Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) took home first place finishes. Murray completed the 3000 meter steeplechase in a time of 9:44.16 to take the top honors. Dill took first in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 55.31.

Justin Kowalski (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) took home second in the 1500 meter run with a time of 4:14.80. Third place finishes for TSU went to Chelsi Morey (Grand Blanc, Mich./Lake Fenton) in the 5000 meter run, Jon Kunze (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider) in the pole vault, and Andrew Grismore (Mooresville, Ind./Monrovia) in the long jump and the triple jump.

04.12 / TSU Competes in True Team Scoring MIAA Jamboree

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association scored the conference jamboree using True Team Scoring. True Team Scoring is a unique scoring method that awards points to every participant in an event. This method makes every event important to every team and provides a more accurate reflection of how teams, from top to bottom, stack up against each other.

This Jamboree will count for half of the MIAA Championship and will be scored using the following method: Individual Event Scoring: (3) participants from each school provide for 21 competitors in each event, thus points will be handed out from 21-1 in descending order; i.e. 1st place 21, 2nd place 20. Relays: Relays will be scored in a likewise manner, points being awarded from 42-6 in increments of six; i.e. 1st place – 42, 2nd place 36.

The Thunder men’s team placed fifth in the event with 420.5 total points. TSU women placed seventh with 99 points. Calvin College took the top spot on both the men’s and women’s side with 924 points for the men and 944.5 points for the women.

Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) took the top spot in three events to lead TSU. Dill was first in the 110 meter hurdles (14.61), 400 meter dash (48.49), and 400 meter hurdles (55.15).

Dill teamed with Max Schaeffer (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Central), Austin Hamsher (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood), and Mike Sobieraj (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Park) in the 4x400 meter relay to capture third place. They also paired for the 4x100 meter relay and finished fourth.

Andrew Grismore (Mooresville, Ind./Monrovia) jumped to a second place finish in the triple jump at 12.60 meters. Logan Harvey (Hope, Ind./Hauser) was fourth in the discus with a mark of 128-11.  Tim Murray (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) completed the 5000 meter run in 15:33.35 and placed fourth. Justin Kowalski (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) rounded out the top five finishers for TSU with a fifth place in the 10000 meter run.

Chelsi Morey (Grand Blanc, Mich./Lake Fenton) had the top finish for the TSU women with an 11 place in the 1500 meter run in a time of 5:17.79. Stephanie Hobbs (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) was 13th in the 100 meter hurdles.

Kim Allen (Jasper, Ind./Jasper) placed 13th in the shot put and 15th in the discus. Ashley Cloud (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) was 14th in the discus with a throw of 26.36 meters.

04.05 / Team Effort Leads TSU Men’s Track & Field to Win

The Tri-State University men’s track & field team scored in every event they competed in on their way to a one point victory over host Manchester College 200-199. The Thunder men took seven first place finishes on the day.

Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) led the way for TSU with two first place finishes in the 400 meter dash and the 110 meter hurdles. Austin Hamsher (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) took home a first in the 100 meter dash. TSU took two top spots in the field events with Andrew Grismore (Mooresville, Ind./Monrovia) in the triple jump and Logan Harvey (Hope, Ind./Hauser) in the discus.

The TSU 4x100 meter relay team of Michael Sobieraj (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Park), Dill, Max Schaeffer (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Central), and Hamsher had the fast time of 43.34. The same four combined for the 4x400 meter relay and took the top spot with a time of 3:26.35.

On the women’s side, Chelsea Morey (Grand Blanc, Mich./Lake Fenton) put together a solid performance with a third place in the 1500 meter run and a fourth in the 800 meter run. Kim Allen (Jasper, Ind./Jasper) placed fifth in the shot put. Ashley Cloud (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) and Amber Price (Lawrenceburg, Ind./East Central) took eight place in the discus and hammer throw.

03.29 / Tri-State’s Men Track Team Places First at Bluffton 

Facing even a division one opponent, Bowling Green, the TSU men took first in multiple events and ran themselves into first place team finish with a score of 168. TSU took first in the 4x100 and the 4x400 relay.  Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) qualified for the NCAA national meet in the high hurdles with a time of 14:70 and took first in the 400 hurdles with a time of 55.05. Andrew Grismore (Mooresville, Ind./Monrovia) took first in the triple jump with a leap of 12.49 meters. Tim Murray (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) won the 5000 meters with a time of 15:52.00. 

The women scored nine points at the meet. Chelsi Morey (Grand Blanc, Mich./Lake Fenton) placed 6th in the 1,500 with a time of 5:15 and 8th in the 800 running 2:33. Amber Price (Lawrenceburg, Ind./East Central) was seventh in the discus Kim Allen (Jasper, Ind./Jasper) was 8th in the shot put.

02.22 / TSU Takes Four of Top Five Spots in 3000 Meter Run

The Tri-State University men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams competed at Ohio Northern University in the Friday Night Series. The men’s team placed fourth with 84 points, while the women placed fifth with 18 points. Host Ohio Northern took both top team spots with the men earning 248 points and the women earned 218.

For TSU, the men’s side was highlighted in the 3000 meter run where they captured four of the top five spots. Tim Murray (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) took first place with a time of 9:19.61. Josh Hogan (Russell, Pa./Eisenhower), Mark Brown (Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon), and Justin Cochard (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) took the three through five spots.

Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) continued his strong season for the Thunder with a first in the 400 meter dash, third in the 55 meter hurdles, and fourth in the high jump. Austin Hamsher (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) picked up 13 points for the Thunder with a second in the 55 meter dash and a fourth place finish in the 300 meter dash.

Chelsi Morey (Grand Blanc, Mich./Lake Fenton) led the Thunder women with a fourth place finish in the mile run. Ashley Runyon (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) also took home a fourth place finish in the 55 meter hurdles. Stephanie Hobbs (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) took fifth in the 55 meter hurdles, sixth in the 55 meter dash, and eight in the 200 meter dash to round out the women’s scoring.   

02.15 / TSU Indoor Track Participates in Findlay Open

The Tri-State University indoor track & field team traveled to The University of Findlay to participate in the Findlay Open. Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) led the way for the TSU men with three top five finishes.

Dill placed third in the high jump, fourth in the 400 meter dash, and fifth in the 60 meter hurdles. Darin King (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) finished the mile run in 4:321.01 and placed fifth. Justin Kowalski (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) rounded out TSU’s top 10 finishers with a sixth place finish in the 3000 meter run.

02.09 / Indoor Track Competes at Anderson

The Tri-State University indoor track & field teams traveled to Anderson, Ind. to compete in the Anderson Indoor Invitational. The TSU men finished fifth with 63 points. Taylor University took the top men’s spot with 155 points. Host Anderson won the women’s side with 106 points. TSU was unable to score as a team.

Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) picked up TSU’s only first place finish in the 55 meter hurdles with a  time of 8.06. Dill, Austin Hamsher (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood), and Justin Kowalski (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) were second place finishers. Dill finished the 400 meter dash in 49.77, Hamsher ran the 200 meter dash in 23.58, and Kowalski finished the 1000 meter run in 2:46.19. 

The 4x400 meter relay team of Dill, Hamsher, Cole Reese (Deshler, Ohio/Patrick Henry), and Max Schaffer (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Central) were second with a time of 3:31.46.

02.02 / Dill Takes First in 600 Meter Run at Taylor

The Tri-State University men’s and women’s indoor track team participated in the 2008 Taylor Indoor Invitational. Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) led the charge for TSU with a first place finish in the 600 meter run with a time of 1:24.56. Dill also picked up a third place finish in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 7.79.

Darin King (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) completed the mile run in 4:31.14 and finished third. Tim Murray (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) took sixth in the 3000 meter run with a time of 8:59.38. Kerry Radosevich (Roanoke, Ind./Huntington North) also had a top 10 finish in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8:56 and finished seventh.

Chelsi Morey (Grand Blanc, Mich./Lake Fenton) paced the way for the women with an eighth place finish in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:40.42. Stephanie Hobbs (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) also competed for the Thunder and ran the 200 meter dash in 29.76.

12.01 / TSU Track Team Opens Indoor Season at Findlay

The Tri-State University men’s and women’s track team opened their season at the University of Findlay by competing in the Oiler Opener. The TSU athletes competed against athletes from a variety of schools including NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II schools.

Sophomores Russell Dill (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) and Austin Hamsher (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) led the way for the TSU men.  Dill placed third in the 400 meter dash with a time of 50.96 seconds and sixth in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.58 seconds. Hamsher’s time of 7.30 seconds in the 60 meter dash was good enough to place him ninth amongst the competition. He finished tenth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.34 seconds.

Stephanie Hobbs (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) and Ashley Nordmann (Bourbon, Ind./Triton) were steady contributors to the effort of the TSU women. Freshman Ashley Cloud (Bedford Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) gained her first experience as a TSU competitor in the shot put event.

The TSU men’s and women’s track team are not scheduled for another event until Friday, January 11th at Ohio Northern University.