Waynesburg University sent their men’s track & field team to the campus of Slippery Rock University on Saturday, April 5, in a crowded field for the Dave Labor Invitational. Even with the conditions being less than ideal, that did not stop yet another record from being broken.

Sophomore Jacob Harker, who has already set the indoor shot put record and placed first at the Indoor PAC Championships, now holds the outdoor record as well. Harker  notched a heave of 14.69 meters, placing ninth out of all collegiate competitors,  placing 10 overall at the meet and second among all Div. III throwers, all of which came in the elite group for shot. Not far behind him was teammate Garrett Hillard, who took third in the open shot put with a throw of 12.32 meters. 

Bill Lubich, who serves as an assistant coach on the men’s and women’s track & field teams for several events, spoke to the work that Harker has put into this season, and how this appears to be a key facet to his ongoing success.

“Jacob Harker’s success this year can be attributed to his dedicated focus on improving his technique and constant work ethic in the weight room and during practice,” Lubich said. “He owns his training under the guidance of coach Thacker.”

Of those at the meet in the field, Waynesburg University saw placement from John Stewart in discus, taking 20th with a throw of 40.19 meters. As for the track, Kyle Casella placed 10th in the 400 meter hurdles with a time 59.90 seconds, while DaGyn Williams set a season best for the open 400 meter with a time of 53.02 to place 22nd on the day. Lastly, graduate student Quinton Weaver placed 10th out of 99 competitors in the 800 meter dash with a time of 1:56.32. 

Although he did not show up on the stat sheet for this meet, senior Zachary Berrott is one to be on the lookout for as the conference Championship looms ahead, now healthy and more confident.

Berrott, who has been dealing with lingering hamstring issues for the past two years for track, admitted that although he is still dealing with some of the aftermath of it, he is ready to compete and not have any regrets going into the weeks of his final collegiate campaign.

“Well if I am being honest it is decent. Hamstrings are a tough muscle when it comes to straining them because it can take years to recover fully,” Berrott said. “I’ve been competing through and it feels all right. I do not know if it will ever be 110%, but I am always going to go out and compete and give it my all when I run because this is my final year.”

Lubich echoed similar sentiments, noting the work of the Athletic Training staff for helping Berrott along to this point.

“Zach Berrot has recovered from a nagging hamstring injury with the help of our AT department and his constant will to work to improve. I foresee him completing his senior season being back on track healthy,” Lubich said. 

The men’s track & field team will be back up north this coming weekend, as they travel to Westminster for their invitational on Saturday, April 12.