2014 Horizon League Track & Field Championships Results - Day One

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio—Under cloudy skies and cool temperatures, the first day of the 2014 Horizon League Outdoor Track & Field Championships took place inside Farmers National Bank Field on the campus of Youngstown State University.

Alex Chollet of Milwaukee claimed the first title of the championship, winning the men’s discus throw with a 52.10 meter toss, good for a 3.16 meter victory over Youngstown State’s Connor Neu. Megan Howdeshell of Valparaiso turned in a victory in the women’s discus, registering a distance of 44.02 meters.

Milwaukee’s Durell Busby, who entered the meet with a qualifying mark of 48.90 meters, uncorked a throw of 62.12 meters, good for a 6.88 meter victory and a new league record. On the women’s side, Youngstown State's Jessica Parham, who had Tommy John surgery 19 months ago, won the event by 12.60 meters with a 44.75 meter toss. Her mark was also a league record.

Through four events in the heptathlon, Sarah-Ann Blount of Wright State, who earlier this year claimed the pentathlon at the Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships, leads with 2,822 points. Teammate Kylie Kopp is in second, 118 points back. The 100-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run remain.

In the decathlon, Milwaukee’s Shawn Bohler holds a 330 point lead over fellow Panther Rutger Meister with 3,280 points. With five events complete, the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run remain.

The night was capped off by the 10,000-meter run. Starting with the men, Dan Shafer of Wright State took first-place with a time of 31:31.14. The Wright State men's team was competing as a non-varsity participant; therefore, Detroit's Martin Nelkie was awarded first-place points via his second-place finish. For the women, Samantha Hamilton of Youngstown State took home top honors, crossing the finish line in 35:30.60. Hamilton and UIC's Tess Ehrhardt were neck and neck much of the race, before Hamilton sprinted home to a 9.40 second victory over Ehrhardt. 

Through three events, Youngstown State leads with 39 points while Milwaukee is in second-place with 26 points. On the women's side, the Penguin women leads with 30 points, while Valparaiso is in second-place with 26 points.

The second day of competition begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the final events in both the decathlon and heptathlon. Live scoring of the championship is available with the Horizon League Network picking up coverage at 2:55 p.m.