ALLENDALE, Mich. – The UIndy track & field teams sent student-athletes north to the Snowdown Showdown at Grand Valley State University on Saturday, with a number of NCAA provisional marks getting hit or improved.
 
Distance-standout Lauren Bailey tasted her first action of season but nonetheless put up an impressed time in the 3000 meters. The reigning All-American finished in 9:29.99, good for the second-fastest time in DII this winter while coming less than a second shy of hitting an NCAA automatic-qualifying mark.
 
Meanwhile in another section of the timed final, junior Melissa Spencer continued to shave seconds off her 3K, setting a PR of 10:33.31. Ben Nagel also set a new distance PR, finishing second in the men's mile on a time 4:13.31.
 
Freshman Ndubisi Eze impressed at Grand Valley as well, posting team season bests in a pair of events. The rookie from New Albany, Ind., earned a provisional mark in the high jump, clearing 2.06 meters – just short of UIndy's nearly 30-year-old program record of 2.08. He also qualified for the finals in the 60-meters hurdles, posting a time of 8.266 to edge teammate Sam DeWitt (8.269) for sixth place.
 
The Greyhounds pole vaulters had a successful meet per usual, led by junior Brittney Clark. The Valpo product improved her own provo status with a mark of 3.86 meters. Fellow-junior Lauren Joseph hit a provisional with a season-best 3.71, while Treyton Arnold matched the highest mark of the meet on the men's side at 4.56 meters.
 
In the throws, senior Katrinia Hopkins bested a slew of Division I competitors with a winning toss of 14.03 meters in the shot put, while Zoe Pentecost earned a provisional mark in the weight throw with a 14.58.
 
Senior Andrew DeRidder highlighted the sprinter group, placing seventh in the 60-meter final (7.01) and coming a mere hundredth of a second from tying a PR.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will return to Grand Valley next weekend for the annual two-day Big Meet, set for Feb. 12-13.