LEXINGTON, KY – The Wilmington College men's track and field team finished second, 12 points from victory, in the 10-team Pioneer Invitational Saturday in the Fightin' Quakers' first outdoor meet of the season.
"I thought we had a chance to win the men's meet and we gave it a good effort," said Wilmington head coach Ron Combs. "We are battling injuries right now and we need to get everyone healthy. Zak Kruer winning the long jump was a nice surprise. Pierce Burnam had a good win in the 400 hurdles and Linden Ayoki had three strong finishes in the throwing events. I think we can be a better outdoor team when we get everyone healthy."
Junior Linden Ayoki (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) had a pair of second-place finishes, in the shot put (13.57) and the discus (41.37). He added a third-place finish in the hammer (39.37). Freshman Kalvin Butts (St. Johns, MI/St. Johns) was fourth in the shot put (12.61) and seventh in the hammer (33.30).
Sophomore Zak Kruer (Miamisburg, OH/Miamisburg) won the long jump (6.53), freshman Alex Tillapuagh (Wilmington, OH/Wickenberg (AZ)) was second in the high jump (1.76) and freshman Pierce Burnam (New Richmond, OH/New Richmond) was fifth in the triple jump (11.89) to score in the jumping events.
Burnam added a victory in the 400 hurdles (57.45) and was fourth in the 110 hurdles (17.06). He teamed with senior Derek Kilgo (Charlotte, NC/North Royalton), senior Jake Sydnor (Owensville, OH/Clermont Northeastern) and senior Jake Simpkins (Germantown, OH/Valley View) for a second place finish in the 4x400 relay (3:29.27).
Simpkins won the 1,500 (4:10.29) and was third in the 800 (2:00.03), while senior Tyler Ahle (Bellefontaine, OH/Benjamin Logan) was eighth in the 1,500 (4:23.28). Sydnor was fourth in the 100 (11.5) and sixth in the 200 (23.22), while freshman Travis Scheadler (Milford, OH/Milford) was seventh in the 400 (53.49).
Senior Scott Blubaugh (Circleville, OH/Logan Elm) was victorious in the 3000 steeplechase (10:57.68).
Wilmington returns to action Saturday at the Cedarville Invitational.