By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KEARNEY, Neb. – The Fort Hays State men’s track and field team traveled to visit inner-conference foe on Sunday (April 14) as they competed in the Loper Invitational hosted by Nebraska-Kearney. On the day, one event went to the Tigers while others finished with high placements throughout.
Reed Rome led the way for Fort Hays State as he captured first place in the 5,000-meters as he posted a top-time of 15:28.52. This was the lone first place finish on the day for the Tigers. Kaleb Crum was close behind Rome in third place with a time of 16:17.79 with Erik Chaparro placing fifth at 16:58.53 and Christopher Nemechek rounded out the Tiger performances in the event in sixth place at 17:03.72.
In the 200-meters, Shane Finegan placed eighth with his strong performance of 22.81. Michael Eisenbarth earned a third place finish in the 10,000-meters with a time of 34:45.64. In hurdles, Sabino Medrana placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.31 and earned a fourth place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at 58.29.
Four Tigers claimed a top-ten finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase led by Israel Barco in second at 10:05.19. Robbie Schmidt placed third at 10:06.66, Peter Franklin earned fifth at 10:21.21 and Robert Loeffler finished in sixth at 10:28.28.
Moving to field events, Lucas Broxterman captured fifth place in the high jump at 6 feet, 2 inches with Blayne Godshall right behind in sixth place at 6 feet, 2 inches. In the pole vault, Mark Faber placed sixth with a jump of 14 feet, 11 inches and Jonathan Ball coming in tenth at 14 feet, 5 inches. Broxterman also added a fourth place finish in the long jump at 21 feet, 7 inches.
Gilbert Peters earned ninth place in the shot put with his heave of 49 feet, 11 inches, as well as a ninth place finish in the discus at 156 feet, 7 inches. Jacob Vaughn added a sixth place finish in the discus with his own throw of 158 feet, 6 inches. Hunter DeGarmo achieved a tenth place finish in the hammer throw by throwing for 161 feet, 7 inches. The javelin brought two top-ten finishes for the Tigers as Cameron Fouts earned third at 175 feet, 7 inches and Trey Teeter behind him in fourth with his throw of 158 feet, 5 inches.
The Tigers next travel to Azusa, Calif for the Bryan Clay Invitational which starts on Wednesday (April 17).