Over the weekend, the Pioneers track and field team competed in two events: the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Open at the Armory in New York, and the YSU Mid-Major Invitational at the Watson & Trestle Training Site in Youngstown, Ohio. 

On both the men’s and women’s sides, several personal and school records were broken, and several NAIA marks were also set. 

In the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Open, the Pioneers were facing off against many Division I programs, but they certainly held their own. 

Five NAIA marks were set on the men’s side, and one NAIA mark was set on the women’s side by senior Allison Plassio. 

Junior Jannik Windelband placed fifth in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:29:77, setting an NAIA mark and a school record. He also set a school record in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:35:72. Also in the 1,000 meters, Ramiro Ulunque set an NAIA mark with a time of 2:30:24. 

In the 600 meters, Elijah James set an NAIA mark with a time of 1:21:46, good for fourth place. 

Collins Eze set an NAIA mark in the triple jump, as he placed fourth at 14.19 meters. Freshman Akeem Mustapha placed third in the long jump and set an NAIA mark with a 7.25-meter leap. 

Plassio set an NAIA mark in the 1,000 meters, placing ninth with a time of 2:59:58. She had the fastest time of anyone non-Division I. 

Junior Diamond Rush set two school records in the 200 and 400 meters. In the 200 meters, she placed eleventh with a time of 25.42 seconds. In the 400 meters, she also placed eleventh with a time of 59.18 seconds. 

Another school record was set by the 4×200 squad of Rush, RaKeya Ellsberry, Maya Greschner and Natalea Hillen. They ended up placing sixth with a time of 1:45:22. 

In the YSU Mid-Major Invitational, personal records were broken all over the place. Three alone were broken in the 5,000 meters, with Luke McKenna (15:54), Jordan Kullen (16:33) and Gabe Ebersole (16:57) all setting career bests. Andy Schach also set a personal record in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:43.  

Karen Rios set personal records in the women’s 500 meters (1:25) and 800 meters (2:32). In the 1,000 meters, three personal records were set. They were set by Cassondra O’Connor (3:12), Corrine Lee-Hauser (3:19) and Kiyara Sawyers (3:21). 

In the 5,000 meters, Sophia Lee-Hauser set a personal record with a time of 20:00. Eden McElhaney also set a personal record in the high jump, jumping 1.55 meters. This contributed to McElhaney having the highest placement at the meet. 

The next meet takes place next Saturday, as the Pioneers will compete in the SPIRE Collegiate Indoor Games at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.