OXFORD, Ohio. — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University outdoor track and field team began its 2022 outdoor season on Friday, March 18 in the Blizzard Buster, hosted by Miami University.
The season-opener resulted in several personal records and school records, as the Cougars had a solid day at the track. The team represented well against NCAA Div. I talent from around the Midwest, and the Cougars had several athletes place in multiple events on the day.
Top performances included MVNU's Kyler Dickey's shot put effort. Dickey punched his ticket to Gulf Shores, Ala., for Outdoor Nationals with an “A” standard throw of 15.95 meters in the shot put. Dickey, a senior from Dover, placed third behind two NCAA Div. I throwers. Dickey also PR’d in discus with a toss of 43.70 meters.
Mount Vernon High School graduate Erich Rhodeback hit the “B” standard in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.70 seconds. Rhodeback, a Cougar freshman, took first place in the event. MVNU's Connor Williams, a junior, also ran strong, finishing fourth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.85 seconds.
Cougar middle-distance runner Liam Near (junior) broke his own school record in the 400-meter run with a time of 50.28 seconds. Near placed fifth overall in the event.
The men’s 4x400 meter relay team of freshman Marcus Whaley, Near, freshman Jaden Haldeman and Rhodeback broke the school record by over two seconds with a time of 3:22.64.
On the Cougar women’s side, senior Macy Weaver placed third in the 5,000-meter run. Weaver shattered the school record with a time of 17:58.
MVNU will next compete on March 26 in the Yellow Jacket Collegiate Open, hosted by Cedarville University in Cedarville.
