Pioneer men sprint to team title at own Grinnell Invitational

Results

GRINNELL, Iowa - Battling plenty of strong teams, Grinnell College's men's track and field squad emerged victorious at its own Grinnell Invitational Saturday.

The Pioneers put up 135.5 points at the Bear Center Field House to win the 11-team meet. Runner-up William Penn was well behind at 113, while Midwest Conference foes Monmouth and Illinois College were third and fourth with 89 and 81, respectively.

It was a great day overall for Grinnell, as the women also won the team crown in their division.

Grinnell's men rode a wave of four event victories and a school record. Xavier James '25 tied the Grinnell program mark in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.96 seconds.

Earning victories were Linus O'Brien '28 in the 400 (51.60), Connor Heagy 26 in the mile (4:37.04), Jack Novelle '26 in the high jump (1.82 meters) and Luca Fornari '25 in the pole vault (4.10 meters). O'Brien's time is ninth in program history.

Grinnell was second in the 1600 sprint medley relay, as Jake Warren '28, Jesse Miller '28, Caden Pfister '27 and Andy Chestovich '26 ran 3:40.88. Other runners-up were Jason Newman '28 in the 5000 (15:40.38), Miller in the long jump (6.53 meters) and Rohan Thota '28 in the pole vault (4.10 meters).

Placing third were Miller in the 200 (22.97, third all-time at Grinnell) and Ben Abelow '28 in the 5000 (15:40.57). Fourth place went to Sam Beck '27 in the 5000 (15:42.27), Casey Oliveira '27 in the triple jump (12.67 meters), Ian Clawson '26 in the weight throw (16.71 meters) and the 4x400 relay team of James, O'Brien, Novelle and Clay Glessner '28 (3:36.59).

James was fifth in the 60 hurdles with his school record-time. Others placing fifth were Pfister in the 400 (53.53), Cameron Welch-Groves '27 in the 800 (2:01.69) and Ty Leonard '28 in the triple jump (11.59 meters). Placing sixth were Ilem Leisher '27 in the 60 hurdles (9.01), Andy Chestovich '26 in the mile (4:47.20) and Oliveira in the long jump (6.30 meters).

Jacob Schomberg '28 and Jack Pennachio '28 ran the fifth- and sixth-fastest 60 hurdles times in program history in 9.56 and 9.62, respectively. Warren's 60 time of 7.22 is seventh in program history, while Oleg Brennan '28 went 13.75 meters in the weight throw which also ranks seventh.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Beck: Sophomore

Andy Chestovich: Junior

Ian Clawson: Junior

Luca Fornari: Senior

Connor Heagy: Junior

Xavier James: Senior

Ilem Leisher: Sophomore

Jack Novelle: Junior

Casey Oliveira: Sophomore

Caden Pfister: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Sam Beck
: Sophomore

Andy Chestovich
: Junior

Ian Clawson
: Junior

Luca Fornari
: Senior

Connor Heagy
: Junior

Xavier James
: Senior

Ilem Leisher
: Sophomore

Jack Novelle
: Junior

Casey Oliveira
: Sophomore

Caden Pfister
: Sophomore