With the Division III Outdoor Track & Field Nationals less than two weeks away in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, several John Carroll athletes attended the Allegheny Invite and the Grand Valley State Last Chance meet in hopes of qualifying or solidifying their times for nationals.

Allegheny College Gator Invite Results 

Grand Valley State University Last Chance Results

Despite windy and unpredictable weather conditions at both meets, the Blue Streaks carried themselves well against the rest of the field.

Allegheny:

Katherine Spillman paced JCU as far as placements went, grabbing first in the 10,000 meter run with a 41:15.12 run.  Teammate Jenny Vrobel had some success in the 5k, finishing eighth (19:20.97).

For the men, Johnny Honkala cracked the Top 10 with a ninth place jaunt in the 5k (15:18.61) while John Cameron earned 10th in the 1,500 with a time of 4:03.42.


Grand Valley State:

Emily Mapes did not eclipse her season best 3,000 meter steeplechase mark, but still was plenty good enough at 10:57.98 to fend off three other competitors in the race at the Last Chance meet.  Her 2013 best run of 10:39.89 turned in at OACs has her ranked seventh in Division III and on pace to reach nationals.

Megan Martinko, who is still looking for a spot at nationals in either the 100 or 400 hurdles, placed fourth in the latter race (1:05.84).  Her best time in the 100 hurdles (14.83, OAC meet) is currently 34th in the country, while she is 74th in the 400 hurdles (1:04.93, OAC meet).

Positioning himself well during the weekend was Will Rial from the JCU men's team, who put forth a second place run in the 3,000 steeplechase  with a time (9:13.69) that has him currently ranked 22nd in Division III.  With the Top 20 steeplechase runners advancing to nationals, he is right on the cusp with one more opportunity this coming weekend at the North Central College Gregory Final Qualifier.

Nick Williams continued his impressive 2013 campaign with a third place finish in the 400 hurdles (54.43).  He is ranked in the national Top 50 in both the 110 (44th) and 400 hurdles (41st).

Another Nick, as in D'Amico, placed fifth in the 400 meter dash and currently sits at 52nd nationally in the event with one meet to go.

And the men's 4x400 relay team, which finished second at Grand Valley State, is currently 92nd nationally. Nick Williams, Mike Hydzik, Nick D'Amico, and Will Cameron crossed the finish line in 3:23.38 to earn the Top 100 ranking.

Mike Minjock, who was idle this past weekend, appears comfortably in the national field with a season-best 7.30 meter long jump, achieved at the 2013 OAC Outdoor Championships.

For more information regarding John Carroll's potential national qualifiers, visit http://www.tfrrs.org/lists/1033.html.  The Top 20 individual men and Top 23 individual women qualify for a trip to Wisconsin LaCrosse, along with the Top 16 relay teams of each gender.