Several Spartans Find Success at Wolverine Invite

ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Michigan State Track and Field had an accomplished day at the Wolverine Invite on Saturday, Jan. 13 with several podium finishes and personal best marks in what was a season-debut for several Spartans.

"We had a solid day all around," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said. "I liked how our athletes had a consistent approach to competition by being engaged and prepared. It felt like a meaningful building block to the start of our season."

Top of the morning
Although the meet wasn't scored, Spartans placed first in the first track and field events of the morning.

To get things started, junior Elle Adrian was crowned weight throw winner with a 20.22m toss. In the 60m hurdles graduate senior Heath Baldwin saved his best sprint for the finals, besting the competition at 7.96, a PR.

Dashing through the snow
A winter storm with several inches of snow Friday night forced multiple teams to drop out from traveling to compete at the meet. For MSU however, the sprinters traveled especially well, placing on the podium and racking up personal best times on numerous occasions.

In addition to Baldwin, also victorious during the morning events was sophomore Lexy Wilson, who finished the 400m sprint in 56.48. On the men's side, sophomore Alex Yon finished second with a 49.55 400 time.

Sophomore Ian Thompson also had a career-day, placing second in the 60m dash with a PR of 6.78. Also logging personal best times, but in the hurdles variant of the 60m, was junior Logan Allen in eight seconds flat and sophomore Regan Lawrence at 8.36.

Competing for pole (vault) position
Spartans shined and landed finalists in both the men's and women's pole vault events. In fact, the last two women standing were Michigan State sophomores Natalie Blake and Sophia Mettes. Both cleared 3.95m but failed the next height, ceding Blake the winner as she completed previous feat in less attempts.

On the men's side, Adam Blue matched his PR of 4.90m despite using a shortened approach. The Potterville, Mich. native earned second in the event, only behind Olympian Steven Bastien who, competing unattached, only beat Blue as he cleared 4.90m in less attempts than the sophomore.

Distance squad returns
For all 12 attached Spartan distance runners that competed on the day, it was their season debut, competing for the first time since the cross country season in the fall. Among them, the top performer was junior Kate Stewart-Barnett, recording a personal best 800m time of 2:08.49.

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Players Mentioned

Elle Adrian

Logan Allen

Heath Baldwin

Natalie Blake

Adam Blue

Regan Lawrence

Sophia Mettes

Kate Stewart-Barnett

Ian Thompson

Lexy Wilson

Alex Yon