Freshman Matt Molinaro leads the Men's Track and Field team to a first place finish at the Joe Banks Invitational

By: Caleb Scott

ADA – Freshman Matt Molinaro set a freshman record in the 800-meter run as the Ohio Northern men's track and field team won the 11-team Joe Banks Invitational at the ONU Sports Center Fieldhouse on Saturday.

The Polar Bears won with 163 points. Rose-Hulman (Ind.) was second with 131.50 points and Otterbein was third with 87.50 points.

Molinaro won the 800 in 1:55.58, marking the second-fastest time in ONU history in the event.

Sophomore Kase Schalois won the 5000-meter run in 15:49.21.

Freshman Brandon Emert won the 500-meter run in 1:09.15.

Senior Phil Farwig won the weight throw with a throw of 55 feet 1.5 inches. He also took fourth place in shot put, with a throw of 47' 2.5".

The team of Emert, Roseler, freshman Conner Karg and senior James Rader won the 4x400-meter relay in 3:36.67.

In the men's 1-mile, sophomore Andrew Harden finished second in 4:22.35.

In the 400-meter dash, senior Jonathan Roseler was second in :50.97 seconds.

Also taking second place for the Polar Bears was senior Kyle Wagner, who finished the 1000-meter run in 2:36.76.

Freshman Samuel Boyd was fifth in the men's 3000-meter run in 9:20.51.

Senior Ryan Brancheau was fourth in the men's high jump, with a jump of 6 feet 5 inches.

Junior Robbie Brinkman finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles in :08.71 seconds.

The Polar Bears will return to action Saturday as they travel to Westerville for the All-Ohio Championships.

Team Scores

1. Ohio Northern 163, 2. Rose-Hulman (Ind.) 131.5, 3. Otterbein 87.50, 4. Cedarville 79, 5. Wittenberg 57, 6. Bluffton 46, 7. Heidelberg 39, 8. Defiance 37, 9. Capital 32, 10. Huntington (Ind.) 19, 11. Wilmington 9.