No. 6 ranked Saints post big performances at GVSU

Five top 10-place finishes highlighted the nationally sixth-ranked University of St. Francis men's indoor track and field team's performance at last weekend's Grand Valley State Big Meet, which encompassed more than 3,000 student-athletes from 300 schools.

Leading the way for USF in the meet were Moses Biosah and Kenny Brown in the 200-meter dash along with Andrew Martinez (SR/Salinas, Calif.) in the open mile run and Davual Bailey (FR/Joliet, Ill.) in the 60-meter dash. The Saints' distance medley relay team who finished within the top seven in their respective events.

The non-scoring meet, which was conducted inside GVSU's Kelly Family Sports Center facility, began on Friday (Feb. 14) with several running events. For USF, the 4x400-meter relay team of Kaizer Giddie (SO/Plainfield, Ill.), Moses Biosah (SO/Maywood, Ill.), Elihu Young (SO/Blue Island, Ill.), and Kenny Brown turned in a 12th-place effort with a combined time of 3:19.58. Omar Paramo (SO/Plainfield, Ill.) was the Saints' top finisher in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:23.32 while Carlos Martinez (SO/Valparaiso, Ind.) recorded a time of 4:18.41 in the mile run to earn 38th place.

The second and final day of competition was held Feb. 15 with Moses Biosah recording the Saints' highest placing at third in the 200-meter dash as a result of a 22.08 time.

His teammate, Kenny Brown (JR/Plainfield, Ill.) attained 10th place following a 22.62 time and 24th place went to Davual Bailey, who sprinted to a 22.94 time.

In the open mile run, Andrew Martinez placed fourth among 68 competitors by running a time of 4:19.36. In the 60-meter dash, Davual Bailey sprinted a 7.11 time to garner sixth place while USF's distance medley relay team of Pedro Ocampo (FR/Berwyn, Ill.), Moses Biosah, Carlos Martinez, and Omar Paramo combined to produce a seventh-place 9:59.56 time.

Kaizer Giddie paced USF in the 400 meters by running a 50.49 time and Elihu Young claimed 23rd place by generating a time of 50.71. Riley McIntyre (SO/Joliet, Ill.) was the first Saints' runner to cross the finish line in the 800-meter run as he achieved 62nd-place honors following a 2:03.76 time.

Noah Fritz (SR/Bourbonnais, Ill.) led the Brown and Gold in the field events as he netted 11th place in the triple jump with a leap of 12.06 meters.

Fritz would place tied for 21st in the long jump by covering a distance of 6.07 meters.

Matt Dorenkamper (SO/Channahon, Ill.) placed 21st in the shot put (12.13 meters) and 25th in the weight throw (12.58 meters) events.

WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD

The nationally-ranked University of St. Francis women's indoor track and field team wrapped up action Feb. 15 at the non-scoring Grand Valley State Big Meet with some solid performances.

The two-day meet consisted of 3,000 student-athletes from over 300 schools in competition held at GVSU's Kelly Family Sports Center.

The Saints are currently ranked 10th in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association's (USTFCCCA) NAIA Indoor Track and Field Rating Index and second in the NAIA's Midwest Region.

In Friday's action, Sabrina Baftiri (JR/Morris, Ill.) posted a 10th-place finish out of 82 runners in the mile run with a time of 5:00.33. The Saints also featured two runners place among the top 20 finishers.