School Record Highlights Final Day of Phil Esten Challenge
LA CROSSE, Wis. – James Vandun's record-breaking performance in the decathlon highlighted the Clarke University track and field team's competition at the Phil Esten Challenge this weekend.
Vandun's tallied 5,536 points in the 10-event competition, with his best performance coming in the pole vault. The sophomore out of Racine, Wis., cleared 13' 3.5" (4.05m) to finish fifth. Vandun also placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.15.
On the track, Kole Haverly set back-to-back personal bests in the 400-meter race (51.66) and 400-meter hurdles (58.08). David Jones, also competing in the 400-meter race, set a career-best with a time of 55.59.
Brandon Martin established a new personal-best in the long jump with a mark of 20' 10" (6.35m) to finish 16thin the event. Blake Willis also competed in the event and finished with a mark of 19' 3.25" (5.87m).
Closing out the Pride on the men's side was Ben Blackburn, who set new career-bests in the shot put (39' 3.75/11.98m) and javelin (112' 8"/34.35m).
On the women's side, Rory Bickler was the top-finisher after taking fifth in the 5000-meter race. The Rose Creek, Minn., native crossed the finish line at 20:02.46, falling just shy of a career-best time.
At the field events, Samantha Kane unleashed a javelin throw of 107' 6" (32.76m), setting a new personal-best in the event and placing her ninth against the field. Kane also participated in the hammer throw, where she took 16th with a mark of 43.70m (143' 4").
Addie Hickey set two career-bests on Saturday, one in the shot put (37' 11.5"/11.57m) and the other in the discus (90' 4"/27.53m). Paige Sparrow also set a PR in the javelin with a throw of 52' 2" (15.90m).
Up Next
The Pride will head to Whitewater, Wis., to take part in the Drake Alternative Meet at the Rex Foster Track on April 29, marking the final outdoor meet before Clarke competes in the Heart of America Outdoor Championships on May 6-7.
CU Competitors
MEN
100 METERS
38. David Jones, 11.69
200 METERS
61. David Jones, 24.15
66. Timothy Miller, 25.08
400 METERS
23. Kole Haverly, 51.66
36. David Jones, 55.59
5000 METERS
9. Emmett Schwartzhoff, 17:31.55
400 HURDLES
8. Kole Haverly, 58.08
3000 STEEPLECHASE
39. Daniel Miller, 10:44.72
41. Brennan Shelton, 12:39.33
POLE VAULT
21. Timothy Miller, 3.98m (13' 0.75")
LONG JUMP
16. Brandon Martin, 6.35m (20' 10")
29. Blake Willis, 5.87m (19' 3.25")
TRIPLE JUMP
25. Blake Willis, 11.88m (38' 11.75")
SHOT PUT
31. Ben Blackburn, 11.98m (39' 3.75")
HAMMER
40. Ben Blackburn, 33.37m (109' 6")
JAVELIN
28. Ben Blackburn, 34.35m (112' 8")
DECATHLON
10. James Vandun, 5,536 Points
WOMEN
100 METERS
22. Emma Grant, 13.34
1500 METERS
54. Marina Mercado, 5:53.68
5000 METERS
5. Rory Bickler, 20:02.46
HIGH JUMP
15. Sydney Norman, 1.41m (4' 7.5")
POLE VAULT
12. Emma Grant, 3.23m (10' 7")
LONG JUMP
37. Kaytlin Eder, 3.90m (12' 9.5")
SHOT PUT
22. Addie Hickey, 11.57m (37' 11.5")
24. Samantha Kane, 11.39m (37' 4.5")
55. Paige Sparrow, 7.55m (24' 9.25")
DISCUS
39. Samantha Kane, 29.16m (95' 8")
42. Marlie Beauchem, 28.58m (93' 9")
44. Addie Hickey, 27.53m (90' 4")
HAMMER
16. Samantha Kane, 43.70m (143' 4")
34. Marlie Beauchem, 39.06m (128' 2")
43. Addie Hickey, 34.82m (114' 3")
60. Paige Sparrow, 23.01m (75' 6")
JAVELIN
9. Samantha Kane, 32.76m (107' 6")
25. Kaytlin Eder, 26.12m (85' 8")
38. Paige Sparrow, 15.90m (52' 2")