Zach Anderson

he SDSU men’s track and field team was led by Jake Schneller and JaRon Harris, as both athletes earned top-ten records at SDSU at the Bison Open on Jan. 30. The Jackrabbits defeated the University of Mary 96.50-53.50 but lost to NDSU 126.00-40.00 to split at the dual meet.

Harris broke his own record when he finished second with a time of 6.99 seconds, breaking the third fastest 60-meter dash he ran last week.

“JaRon has been a nice addition to the team,” head coach Rod DeHaven said. “It will be interesting to see him progress during the season as he gets into track shape. His start is getting better as he gets used to running 60 meters as opposed to 40 yards. By the end of the season, JaRon should contend for a conference title in the 60. The interesting part is that he will be battling an NDSU defensive back/sprinter for the title.”

Schneller ran the 10th fastest 600-meter dash all-time at SDSU when he finished in one minute, 23.25 seconds, also scoring a second-place finish.

In the high jump, Camden Helder led the Jackrabbits with a jump of 2.06 meters, a second-place finish and a personal best for Helder on the season.

Sam McInerney led the Jacks in the shot put competition with a throw of 15.06 meters, a season best that earned him a second-place finish.

For the Jacks, Anthony Bongard finished third in the mile run with a time of 4:24.00, while teammate Brad Anderson finished sixth in 4:27.00.

Luke Leischner led the Jackrabbits in the 400-meter dash with a third-place finish in 51.07, Jared Foote finished fourth for SDSU with a time of 51.51.

NDSU’s Weston Leutz won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.20, while SDSU’s Andrew Duitsman finished fourth in 8.48.

In the 200-meter dash Duitsman placed third with a time of 23.34, followed by fellow Jackrabbit Evan Bunkers who finished fourth in 23.43.

For the Jackrabbits, Greg Vollmer earned a third-place finish in the 800-meter run in a time of 1:58.19, teammate Todd Vlieger placed fifth in 2:01.42.

In the 1600 meter relay, the Jackrabbit team of Lars Mattison, Schneller, Vollmer and Vlieger earned a third-place finish in a time of 3:33.27.

Jackrabbit senior Tyler Schiferl placed sixth in the pole vault with a vault of 4.60m.

Freshman Jared Vlastuin earned a second-place finish in the long jump with a jump of 6.96m. NDSU’s Douglas Scott placed first with a vault of 6.99m.

In the triple jump, Vlastuin placed seventh with a jump of 12.82m.

Sean Burns led the Jacks in the weight throw with a throw of 16.59m, earning him a fourth-place finish.

Up next, the Jackrabbit men will be competing in the Bill Hillenbrand Invitational in Vermillion and the Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Feb. 6 and 7.