TRACK AND FIELD BREAKS FIVE SCHOOL RECORDS ON OPENING DAY OF INDOOR SEASON

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. –  The Oakland Track and Field teams couldn’t have asked for a more productive day to show all of their hard work in the off-season. The Golden Grizzlies broke five different school records in their 2019-20 indoor campaign debut, setting the bar high for the season to come.

Senior sprinter Chanel Gardner displayed her veteran dominance as she won and broke the school record in both the 200m and the 400m dashes. Gardner logged a 24.76 time for her 200m and a 55.46 for her 400m. Cassidy Newburg kept pace with her teammate Gardner as she placed runner-up in the 400m and third in the 200m. Freshman Payton Sabourin placed third in the 400m.

Junior sprinter Jimmie Williams had himself a meet as he too, broke the school record in both the 200m and 400m sprints. Williams recorded a time of 21.33 for his 200m with teammates Malcolm McIntyre and Marcus Nellum coming in fourth and fifth respectively. The Southfield native clocked in a time of 47.30 for his 400m which also broke an SVSU Fieldhouse record.

Marcus Nellum ran very well in the indoor opener, setting a new 60mH record with a time of 8.53 while newcomer Delan Wynn kicked things into high gear, placing runner up in the 60m dash with a time of 6.88. On the women’s side, freshman Brenea Benton placed third for the Golden Grizzly women in the 60m dash, recording a time of 7.79.

Alex Hugh-Plott won the men’s high jump clearing a height of 6 ft., 5 in. while Hannah Hall placed runner up in the women’s high jump with a mark of 5 ft., 2.5 in.

The women’s freshmen throwers dominated the shot put competition as they had four individuals place inside the top 13. Lauren Christian placed third, Mikayla Wise (sixth), Shannon Gaffney (10th) and Chloe Houtos placed 13th.

Both men’s and women’s 4x400m sprint relays were just off the mark for breaking school records. The men’s team of Malcolm McIntyre, Junias Holmes, Jimmie Williams and Marcus Williams recorded the first place finish in a time of 3:16.67 while the women’s team of Hannah Coverdill, Payton Sabourin, Chanel Gardner and Jessica Lambert also placed first with a time of 3:53.34.

The Golden Grizzlies men’s heptathlon athletes will compete Saturday, Dec. 7 at SVSU.