Depth sends Grinnell men to team title at Hilltop Invitational

Pioneers pile up 137 points to defeat runner-up squad by 23

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - Grinnell College's men's track and field squad put its depth on display Saturday on its way to winning the Hilltop Invitational team crown.

The Pioneers won just two event titles, but used high placings in nearly every competition to pile up 137 points. That put them well ahead of runner-up William Penn's total of 114 at the meet hosted by Cornell College.

Grinnell's event champs were Luca Fornari '25 in the pole vault and Casey Oliveira '27 in the triple jump. Fornari leaped 4.35 meters and Oliveira went 12.96 meters, which ranks ninth in program history.

Runners-up for Grinnell were Rohan Thota '28 in the pole vault (4.05 meters) and the 4x200 and 4x800 relay squads. The 4x200 unit of Jake Logue '28, Clay Glessner '28, Jake Warren '28 and Jesse Miller '28 ran 1 minute, 34.60 seconds and the 4x800 quartet of Owen Block '27, Ryan Boev '25, Connor Heagy '26 and Cameron Welch-Groves '26 finished in 8:29.64.

The 4x400 unit of Xavier James '25, Linus O'Brien '28, Welch-Groves and Caden Pfister '27 finished third in 3:33.23. Others placing third were Miller in the long jump (6.38 meters), Pfister in the triple jump (11.80 meters), O'Brien in the 200 (23.39), Heagy in the 800 (2:03.46), Luke Robinson '26 in the 3000 (8:52.11) and Greyson Imm '28 in the 5000 (16:40.42).

Taking fourth were Jack Novelle '26 in the high jump (1.80 meters), Ian Clawson '26 in the weight throw (16.12 meters), Pfister in the 200 (23.48), Sam Beck '27 in the 3000 (9:00.12) and Keely Miyamoto '26 in the 5000 (17:03.62).

Sixth place went to Ilem Leisher '27 in the 60 hurdles with a time of 9.12 and Jason Newman '28 in the 3000 with a time of 9:02.34. James ran 9.22 in the 60 hurdle finals, which ranks third all-time at GC.

The Pioneers host their own Grinnell Invitational next Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Beck: Sophomore

Owen Block: Sophomore

Ryan Boev: Senior

Ian Clawson: Junior

Luca Fornari: Senior

Connor Heagy: Junior

Xavier James: Senior

Ilem Leisher: Sophomore

Jack Novelle: Junior

Casey Oliveira: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Sam Beck
: Sophomore

Owen Block
: Sophomore

Ryan Boev
: Senior

Ian Clawson
: Junior

Luca Fornari
: Senior

Connor Heagy
: Junior

Xavier James
: Senior

Ilem Leisher
: Sophomore

Jack Novelle
: Junior

Casey Oliveira
: Sophomore