Seven First-Place Finishes, Numerous PRs Highlight Weekend at WMU

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Maranda Donahue had a new PR in the 5000 at WMU.

Members of the Valparaiso University track & field program turned in seven first-place finishes, highlighting a weekend that saw numerous Beacons establish personal records at the Jack Shaw Invitational, hosted by Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich. The bulk of the team participated in its first outdoor action of the season after last weekend’s meet at Illinois State was canceled due to inclement weather.

How It Happened

Freshman Micah Mullings (Minesing, Ontario, Canada / Barrie North) had a big day in the jumps, winning a pair of events. His long jump of 6.92 meters (22-8.5) established a personal record and topped a 10-athlete field, while his triple jump of 14.15m (46-5.25) also helped him to an event title. Valpo also boasted the runner up in the TJ as Gavin Schaefer (Lake Saint Louis, Mo. / Timberland) had a mark of 12.60m (41-4.25).
In the distance, Cameron Sheehy (DeMotte, Ind. / Kankakee Valley) stopped the clock in 15:27.39 in the men’s 5000, winning the event in a 22-runner field. He shattered his previous PR.
Valpo’s fourth event win came courtesy of Sean Curran (Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield), who posted a personal-best time of 10:12.59 in the 3000 steeplechase.
In the men’s javelin, Tommy Palmer (Saco, Maine. / Phillips Exeter Academy) achieved a mark of 47.75m (15-8) to win the event.
In the men’s pole vault, Tristan Malatlian (Pfafftown, N.C. / Reagan) took the top spot with a mark of 4.65m.
Another Valpo victory occurred in the men’s 1,500, where Beacons took the top three spots. Leading the way was Ignacio Veloz Bonilla (San Juan, P.R. / American Military Academy) at 3:57.05, followed by Simeon Ehm (Castle Rock, Colo. / Heritage) at 3:59.57 and Eric Carothers (Fishers, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern) at 4:00.01.
That same trio found success in the 800, when Valpo captured three of the top four places. Veloz Bonilla was second at 1:56.36, while Carothers finished third with a PR of 1:59.38. Ehm rounded out the trio at 2:03.02, good for fourth in the field.
In the women’s throws, Tori Gerhardt (Westville, Ind. / Chesterton) had a big day of PRs. She paced the team in the women’s discus with a heave of 38.22m (125-4) to place sixth of 24. Her shot put of 11.92m (39-1.25) was good for fifth of 16, while her hammer toss of 45.12 (148-0) helped her finish as the runner-up out of 23 athletes. All three of those marks were personal bests.
Speaking of PRs in the throws, Joe Irons paced Valpo with personal bests in the men’s discus and hammer, turning in a 37.85 (124-2) in the discus and a 46.40 (152-2) in the hammer.
In the women’s 5000, Maranda Donahue (Delton, Mich. / Delton-Kellogg) stopped the clock in 18:01.72 to pace the team and finish third of 14. She established a new PR. Grace Aurand (Highland, Ind. / Highland) was right behind, finishing fourth at 18:05.23.
In the 800, Alina Worzella (Martinsville, Ind. / Martinsville) was the runner-up in a 24-athlete field with a time of 2:23.72.
The 400 saw Kai Dilosa (Merrillville, Ind. / Lake Central) place sixth of 19 with a PR of 1:01.12.
In the sprints, Lukas Sepulveda (Camano Island, Wash. / Stanwood) clocked a 22.60 in the men’s 200, placing fourth of 28. Sepulveda also had a PR in the 100 at 11.24, helping him finish sixth of 21.
On the women’s side in the sprints group, Marion Isaac (Evergreen Park, Ill. / Evergreen Park) PR’d with her 100 time of 13.61, good for fifth of 18.