MSU dominates in Spartan Invitational

With steady rain and some lightning delays, the weather may have been lackluster at the Spartan Invitational on Saturday, but the MSU track and field team came out in full force, sweeping the event with first place finishes in 22 events.

MSU hosted teams from 18 regional schools, which included Michigan and Notre Dame, at Munn Field and Ralph Young Field throughout the day.

Walt Drenth, MSU’s director of track and field, said he was pleased with the team’s performance given the rough conditions outside.

“I thought we competed pretty well right down to the end,” Drenth said. “(When it’s) cold and wet, I don’t know if you prepare for it.

“We have to train outside occasionally and the sprinters and jumpers don’t typically train in this kind of weather. We’re inside, but it’s Michigan and this is where we live and this is outdoor track so this is kind of what it is.”

The Spartans gave a strong performance in the field events, as sophomore Scott Beals placed first in the javelin with a throw of 56.13 meters and senior Meagan Halliwill also placed first in the discus and hammer throw. While Beals said he enjoyed the victory at the meet, the team remains focused on the Big Ten Championships.

“It’s a fun meet, it’s the Spartan Invite, it’s good to be here,” Beals said. “Our main focus is (on the) Big Ten … making it to the national meet at the end of the year.”

The team had similar success in the track events, as the women’s team took first place in seven out of 11 events. The men’s team also was successful, with senior Jeremy Orr and junior Michael Smoot earning first place in the 200-meter and 400-meter dash, respectively, while redshirt sophomore Ian Boyle took first in the 1500-meter run.

Redshirt freshman Jake Hamilton took first in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, posting a time of 52.79. Hamilton said he credits his success to his attitude toward his race conditions.

“This was probably my personal best as a race,” Hamilton said. “Even though the weather was bad, I thought everybody else would be in the same situation as me, so I thought I’d be optimistic about it and pulled through and got a win.”

The Spartan Invitational marks the second successful meet for the team after the women’s and men’s team took first and second place respectively at the Colonial Relays in early April, but Beals said the team still has room to grow.

“I want to see some top five this year at Big Ten, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”