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UNLEASH THE GRIZZ

Oakland University Athletics

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Track & Field Jordan Nelson

Track and Field Welcomes Outdoor Season; Wraps up 49er Classic with Collection of Top Finishes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Golden Grizzlies opened their outdoor season as they ventured to Charlotte to compete in the Charlotte 49ers two day Classic.

Day 1

After a rain delay moved back Oakland's start to the season, they were able to eventually take the track and make some noise.

They started with the Women's 100m race, where freshman Ke'Vina Finch ran a 12.45, finishing fourth in her heat and top ten overall. On the men's side, junior Julian Bailey finished fifth in his heat with a time of 11.15.

The Golden Grizzlies showed out in the Men's 400m as well on Friday. Freshman Justice Stewart placed fourth in his heat with a time of 49.30, good for the seventh fastest time of all runners. Justin Kudera (49.93) and Eddie Harrell III (50.22) both finished in the top 20 overall as well.

Grace Hungerford was the lone Oakland athlete to compete in the 400m hurdles, where she took home the top spot in her sector and the fifth fastest time overall, clocking in at 1:03.93.

Moving to the 1500m race, Oakland was well represented in this event, having several runners on both sides finish in the top sections. Hannah Fisher (4.38.14) and Brooke Hinkelman (4.48.59) both finished with top 25 times. Haileigh Bissett (4.51.96) and Genavive Kushner-Lopez (4.52.36) also finished in the top 50 in a field of over 105 runners. For the men, freshman Logan Detweiler used a time of 3.55.52 to finish 13th, while also running the 10th fastest 1500m time of all-time at Oakland. Trey Plichta (4.01.06) finished in the top 35 as well.

Jennifer Ohlsson (17:15.59) and Makenna Scott (17:44.91) blazed trails in the Women's 5000m Invite, as both finished in the top 20, with Ohlsson recording the fourth fastest time. The men's side followed suit as Carter McCalister's time of 14:47.46 earned him seventh place and the 10th fastest time in program history. Wesley Hollowell (14:53.29) joined his running mate in the top 15 of the event, finishing 12th.

Adam Jesse finished the Friday festivities on the track for Oakland as he ran the fifth fastest 5000m time in Oakland history with a time of 30:47.30, earning first place in the event.

The Golden Grizzlies flexed their muscles in the field as well. In the hammer throw Jaimie Giese threw a distance of 43.32m, closing out a late night at the track.

Day 2

With the second and final day present, Oakland started their day on the field, where history was made. Starting off in the men's hammer throw, Romario Jackson's throw of 53.70m put him in sixth place and became the third longest throw in program history. 
He was joined in the event by Alex Mansfield, who placed 29th with a throw of 41.74m.

Giese competed in her second event of the weekend, throwing a distance of 11.02 in the shotput. Jackson too saw his second event, earning another sixth place finish, but this time in the discus as he threw 51.51m.

With just the track events left, Oakland finished up with the men's 800m and women's 200m races.

In the 800m, the Golden Grizzlies showed what might be one of their strongest events, with three runners finishing in the top 12. Harrell III led the way, finishing in fourth overall and third in his heat (1:52.72). TJ Brooks was right behind him, placing eighth overall (1:53.89). Plichta finished first in his heat, 12th overall, with a time of 1:55.55. 

In the women's 200m Hungerford took the top spot in her heat (25.25), Finch finished fourth in her heat (25.38), and freshman Jaylin Wahsington (25.96) finished third in her heat as all three took home spots in the top 35.

The Golden Grizzlies take a week away from competition before returning to the track next week as they head to Indiana Wesleyan for the IWU Polar Bear Invitational at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 23.
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