Trailblazer Track and Field have good start to season at John Craft Invitational

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The VU Track and Field teams began their 2022 Indoor season Saturday and had a strong showing at the John Craft Invitational hosted by Eastern Illinois University.

Sophomore Kyle Stewart (Evansville, Ind.) took home the top spot in the Men's Long Jump for Vincennes, finishing with a distance of 7.17 meters. Stewart would also place seventh in the Men's 60 meter race with a time of 7.16 seconds.

"Kyle Stewart won the long jump and his distance qualified him for Nationals," VU Track and Field Head Coach Marty Rogier said. "It was a very good early season performance considering he is learning a little different approach system and he has really not jumped into a pit since last season. I believe he has some really good jumps coming."

Sophomore Trenton Faulkner (Vincennes, Ind.) also had a first-place finish, taking the top spot in the Men's 600 meter race with a time of 1:26.78.

"Trenton's time in the 600 was fast," Rogier added. "That was an excellent run for his first meet. I am very excited about what he might do this season. He is a very versatile runner and could be successful in several different events."

Faulkner was also a member of the Men's 4000 meter distance medley team that placed second at 11:09.49 with sophomore Manamanya Opiew (Indianapolis, Ind.), Ernest Momodu (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Mathew Keitany.

Sophomore Damien Ross (East St. Louis, Ill.) also competed in the Men's 600 meter race, finishing sixth with a time of 1:39.06.

Mathew Keitany placed fifth in the Men's 1 mile race at 4:27.54.

"Mathew Keitany had his first track experience in the US and was very good," Rogier said. "He has only been with us for a week and ran a fast mile to place fifth. Assistant Coach Tyler Steigenga and I are very excited about what his potential can be as he learns to race indoors. He is obviously very talented but has not competed indoor, which is a different style of racing than outdoors or road racing."

Sophomore Mason Harmes (Borden, Ind.) finished seventh in the Men's Shot Put after a throw of 12.20 meters.

"Our throwers set new PR's which for the first meet was a pleasant surprise," Rogier said. "Mason Harmes set a new PR in both the weight throw and shot put and Jaylen Rush set a new PR in the weight throw."

Freshman Yamar Lyons (Kalamazoo, Mich.) rounded out the VU Men's team member to podium with an eighth place finish in the Men's 400 meter race with a time of 56.05.

"Yamar might have given the most spirited performance of the day as he fought in the 400 heat," Rogier added. "He fought hard to finish second in his heat but it got the team excited and that is what it's about."

The Trailblazer women's team had a few podium winners as well, led by the 4000 Meter Distance Medley team of Brittany Page (Bicknell, Ind.), Chloe Knepp (Montgomery, Ind.), Kaitlyn Koenig and Kyra Young (South Bend, Ind.) who finished second with a time of 14:30.50.

Knepp and Koenig would also go on to reach the podium in other events as well Saturday, with Knepp placing fourth in the Women's 400 Meters at 1:05.14 and Koenig placing fourth in the 600 Meter at 1:58.51.

"I thought Chloe Knepp had a really nice run in the 400 and showed promise for having a very nice season," Rogier said.

The Trailblazer Track and Field teams will hope to be back at full strength next weekend as they head to the Indianapolis Track & Field Classic hosted by the University of Indianapolis Saturday, Jan. 22.

"We had a few pieces not compete Saturday, so as we get them back we might be in for a few surprises," Rogier said. "I think we have several people who did not compete today who will be competing at Nationals later this season. Going up to U Indy next weekend, we hope to have more people back, which will give us a better idea of what kind of athletes we've got."

VINCENNES RESULTS

Men's Team

Shot Put

Mason Harmes – 7, 12.20m

Long Jump

Kyle Stewart – 1, 7.17m

60m

Kyle Stewart 7, 7.16

1 mile

Mathew Keitany – 5, 4:27.54

400m

Yamar Lyons – 8, 56.05

600m

Trenton Faulkner – 1, 1:26.78

Damien Ross – 6, 1:39.06

4000m DMR

Opiew, Faulkner, Momodu, Keitany – 2, 11:09.49

Women's team

400m

Chloe Knepp – 4, 1:05.14

600m

Kaitlyn Koenig – 4, 1:58.51

4000m DMR

Page, Knepp, Koenig, Young – 2, 14:30.50