Men's Track & Field finishes second at Rick Meindl Last Call hosted by Capital

BEXLEY — The Ohio Northern men's track & field team nearly claimed victory at the Rick Meindl Last Call hosted by Capital Saturday afternoon with a second-place finish.

The Polar Bears had 122 points and were just edged by NCAA Division I foe Miami (Ohio) who scored 122.5 in the 13-team field. Northern is now 40-4 on the season.

In his first competition of the season, senior Joe Amstutz made a statement with a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash in 51.43. Junior Shane Huntley finished one spot behind in 52.02.

Senior Jacob Weyrauch picked up the only other victory for the Polar Bears, claiming first place in the pole vault at a height of 14-11.5. Senior Scott Underwood and freshman Bryan Miller tied for fifth in the event at 13-5.75.

Junior Ryan Fleming turned in a second-place effort in the 60-meter dash in 7.02, his best time of the season.

Sophomore Dan Smith and freshman Michael Simmons also had second-place finishes during the meet. Smith was second in the 1,000-meter run in an ONU season-best time of 2:31.96, while Simmons was second in the 5,000-meter run in 16:17.88.

Fellow freshman Matt Bayman was not far behind Simmons in the 5,000, finishing fourth in 16:24.20.

Juniors Evan Heyman, Jacob Schoenlein and Travis Isenberg all recorded third-place finishes in their respective events.

Heyman finished the 200-meter dash in 22.82, Schoenlein finished the mile run in 4:33.39 and Isenberg finished the 800-meter run 2:01.90.

Junior Garrett Brown was solid in the 60-meter hurdles, placing fourth in 8.77 seconds.

Junior Joe Gutter was fourth in the weight throw with a distance of 45-5.25.

Senior Franklin Freytag had another fourth-place finish in the 3,000-meter run, crossing the finish line in 9:10.23.

In the shot put, senior Anthony Thomas turned in a season-best throw at 44-6 and a fifth-place finish.

The Polar Bears will look to win the OAC Indoor Track & Field Championship on Friday and Saturday at Marietta.