Bechtel Sets Two School Records Friday

Friday, February 14

Allendale, Mich.

All Day

Miami University

GVSU Big Meet

2/14/2020 11:04:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country

Results Saturday Schedule Saturday Performance List Saturday Performance List (cont.)

Bechtel ran in Boston while the rest of the RedHawks competed at Grand Valley State.

ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Miami RedHawks put together a very strong day at Friday's Big Meet hosted by Grand Valley State, while Olivia Bechtel split off to Boston and broke a pair of school records.

Bechtel ran in the 200 and 400 at Boston University's Valentine Invitational and put up huge numbers in both events. In the 200, she ran a time of 23.95 to break Diona Graves' indoor record set in 2012 and took second place in the field of nearly 300 runners. The 400 saw the senior shatter her own school record that she set last year with a time of 53.44, nearly a full second better than her time last season. This gave her third in another very deep, competitive field.

MAKE IT TWO!@obechtel6 sets the school record in both the 200 and 400 in Boston!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/wRN7SufrzQ
— Miami Track & Field and XC (@MiamiOH_XCTF) February 14, 2020

Back at Grand Valley State, a multitude of RedHawks had big days of their own. On the track, Emily Akin added to her strong season with a PR in a new event, running a 8:38.95 for fourth place in the 3000. Akin now holds the team-leading time in the 800, mile, and 3000. In the mile, McKenna Fry had a very strong run of 4:53.58. This was a new personal best for herself and earned fifth place.

The field athletes for Miami also had a very impressive showing on Friday. Grace Rigel and Sydney Jefferson both posted PRs in the throws; Rigel's 13.60m garnered her third in the shot put, while Jefferson took fourth in the weight throw with a toss of 16.82m.

On the men's side, Finley Mclear had a strong return showing from his record-setting-effort in the 800 last weekend at the Meyo Invitational. He won the event for the second straight time, posting a time of 1:48.55, which is the third-best run in school history behind his run last week and Sean Torpy's 1:48.44 last year.

Elsewhere, freshman Andrew Schroff had a fifth-place run in the mile, while Mitchell Towne had a PR in the 3000.

Tomorrow will feature another full slate of events at GVSU - the meet is structured so that both Friday and Saturday will function as its own meet. A full schedule and list of entrants is attached above.

Big Meet Top Performers
Women
60h: Kayla Walters - 8.98
400: Gabby Cossio - 58.26 (PR)
600: Elena Pazman - 1:36.05 (6th)
Mile: McKenna Fry - 4:53.58 (5th, PR)
3000: Emily Akin - 8:38.95 (4th, PR)
5000: Hannah Santoni - 17:24.58 (PR)
Triple Jump: Hannah Falcione - 11.58m (6th)
Pole Vault: Grace Dima - 3.43m
High Jump: Hannah Bush - 1.60m (2nd)
Shot Put: Grace Rigel - 13.60m (3rd, PR)
Weight Throw: Sydney Jefferson - 16.82m (4th, PR)

Men
60: Jeremiah Hunter - 6.96
60h: Al Margo - 8.57
800: Finley Mclear - 1:48.55 (1st)
Mile: Andrew Schroff - 4:08.31 (5th)
3000: Mitchell Towne - 8:21.18 (PR)
5000: Obsaa Feda - 15:00.18
Pole Vault: Jack Francetic - 4.57m