April 16, 2015 ROCHESTER, Mich.-- The Oakland track and field team will compete in split squad meets traveling to the Al Owens Classic held at the GVSU Lacrosse/Track &Field Stadium and Gibson Invitational held at Indiana State's Gibson Track and Field on Friday and Saturday, April 17-18.
Last Saturday, at the Golden Grizzly Duals held at the Oakland Track & Field Stadium, Gino Vitella set a new outdoor school record with a shot put throw of 57 feet, 8.9 inches while Serena San Cartier won the 100m hurdles title with a Horizon League top time of the week at 14.06 and finished second in the 200m dash with a mark of 25.52.
The men's team secured wins over rival University of Detroit Mercy (90-31), IPFW (97-6) and Valparaiso (96-29) while being edged by Central Michigan (69-67). The women's team also defeated UDM (88-54), IPFW (100-44) and Valparaiso (107-21) and were nipped by CMU (78-74). The Chippewas finished the meet with perfect 4-0 records on both sides.
During the Al Owens Classic last season, San Cartier won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:03.63 while Miranda Haas took second in the 5000m at 18:13.75. Katelynne Hartman was runner-up in the shot put with a toss of 42 feet, 4.25 inches and Ashley Burr finished third in the steeplechase at 11:38.52.
On the men's side, Andrew Bowman won the steeplechase with a time of 9:38.50 while Geoffrey Williston finished second in the 800m with a time of 1:55.40. Nathan Ziolko also placed fifth in the 5000m at 15:17.17
Candice Mack and Vitella were named Horizon League Runner and Athlete of the Week for the period of March 23-29. Mack broke the 400m school record with a time of 57.18 to finish 16th out of 119 runners to lead Oakland at the Raleigh Relays (March 28). Vitella claimed his second Athlete of the Week accolade of the season by posting the league's top shot put throw of the week at 53 feet, 7.0 inches to finish seventh out of 52 competitors.
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