Freshman Ian McVey leads Men's Track & Field at the Gregory Invitational

By Ashley Birchmeier

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The Ohio Northern men's track and field team sent select members to the Gregory Invitational hosted at North Central College in hopes of posting an NCAA qualifying mark Wednesday and Thursday.

Freshman Ian McVey led the Polar Bears in the 5,000-meter run with a new personal best time of 14:46.91. 

McVey set a new freshman record in the event an ran the third fastest time in ONU history.

Junior Aaren Hemmelgarn finished 17th in the event with a time of 15:31.63.

Senior Christian Rupe compete in the 100-meter dash finishing ninth in 10.96 and the 200-meter dash finishing 13th in 22.35.

In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Conner Karg claimed a seventh place finish in 49.54, while sophomore Matt Molinaro finished ninth in 49.77.

Molinaro is currently ranked second in the nation in the 800-meter run.

Sophomore Brandon Emert finished 10th in the 400-hurdles in 55.47, while senior Eric Wymer finished 10th in the 1,500-meter run in 4:00.03.

The Polar Bears also sent select members to Ohio Wesleyan to compete in the Great Lakes Elite Meet.

Senior Brandon Ike competed in the pole vault finishing second with a height of 15 feet 1.5 inches.

In the hammer throw, junior Lucas Shumate finished sixth with a distance of 163 feet 3 inches. He is currently ranked 11th in the nation in the event.

Northern returns to the track next week as they compete at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted in Wartburg, Iowa.