CINCINNATI, Ohio – The UIndy track & field teams went head-to-head with a number of Division I teams this weekend at the Oliver Nikoloff Open, with both squads placing in the top four in the team standings. Eighteen men's and 16 women's teams competed at the meet, held at the University of Cincinnati's Gettler Stadium Friday and Saturday.
 
Once again it was the throwers that led the way for the Greyhounds. Senior Austin Hogan continued his hot start to the outdoor season, placing first, first and second in the hammer throw, discus and shot put, respectively. His big mark came in the hammer, as his throw of 67.53 meters was good for personal record and an NCAA automatic qualifier. The performance also placed his name second only to former-national-champion Dameion Smith (2004) among the longest hammer throws in program history.
 
Senior Katie Monk also racked up significant points for the Hounds, placing third in the hammer, discus and shot. Hilary Paxson took fifth in the women's hammer (51.88 m) and Keeton Adams hit a provisional mark with a third-place showing in the men's shot put.
 
Senior Keri Ertel had a great meet on the track, winning the women's 400-meter hurdles (1:01.47) and placing sixth in the 100 hurdles (14.75). Her time in the former was good for a PR and a provo, and was just five hundredths of a second off the school record.
 
In the men's hurdles, Dallas Ford set a new PR with a time of 53.59 in the 400-meter hurdles, good for a runner-up finish. Cameron Engelhardt took seventh in the 400 hurdles (56.04), while Ford (fourth place among collegians) and Sam Bokodi (8th) both scored points in the 110 hurdles.
 
Briana Leonard and DeAndre Bluitt recorded fourth-place finishes, with Leonard running the 3000-meter steeplechase in 11:01.92 and Bluitt clearing 1.98 meters in the high jump.
 
The Greyhound sprint relay teams also fared well, with the men (Andrew DeRidder, Brady Walden, Rhonale Terrell and Trace Oswalt) placing fourth and the women (Brooke Green, Olivia Parsley, DeAni Dunigan and Kirsti Oswalt) fifth.
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds are back at it next weekend at the Ball State Challenge April 12-13.