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Printer-Friendly ModeSVSU hopes for top-three finish at conference meet
April 26, 2010 —
With the GLIAC meet coming up next week, SVSU used the Stan Lyons Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind., to prepare.
Senior middle distance runner Tony Filipek thinks the team is as ready as it will get.
“The outdoor season is pretty short but heading into the league meet, we’re as ready as we’re going to be,” Filipek said. “It was the last meet before the league meet so we did some fine tuning. Anything that wasn’t figured out there probably won’t be figured out for the league meet.”
The men had a number of high finishes at the meet, which toward the end had to contend with bad weather.
Freshman hurdler Calvin Sullins took first place in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 15.45. Sullins also took second in the triple jump with a distance of 13.52 meters.
Sophomore Jon Wetters placed second in the steeplechase with a time of 9:39.76.
Filipek rounded out the men in terms of running, as he finished the 800-meter run in a time of 1:50.58, good enough for third place.
Filipek was pleased with his performance.
“Toward the end of the meet, it was a little more difficult because it started raining and the weather started acting up,” Filipek said. “There was a lot of great competition in the 800 so it was a great race.”
In the field competition, sophomore thrower Brian Bott placed second in the hammer throw with a distance of 53.29 meters.
Red shirt freshman thrower Kane Dietzel threw the discuss a distance of 43.55 meters earning him a second place finish. The distance was a personal best.
Senior pole-vaulter Luke Dinnan earned a third place finish in the javelin throw with a distance of 45.00 meters.
Overall, Filipek was happy with the Cardinals finish.
“The bad weather at the end made it tough for the distance guys but I think we liked the way we competed throughout the day,” he said.
Also competing during the week was freshman distance runner Tyler Noble, who competed in Hillsdale at the Hillsdale Gina Relays.
Due to his performance, Noble earned a spot in the 10,000-meter Junior National meet.
The GLIAC meet takes place May 5-7 in Big Rapids. Filipek believes the team is capable of a third place finish.
“Talent wise we aren’t a first or second place team at the league meet,” he said. “I think if we could end with a third place finish, we would all be pretty happy.”
For underclassmen, Filipek thinks the Cardinals can use the meet to gain momentum for next season.
“There are some guys that haven’t quite hit the marks that they wanted to this season,” Filipek said. “If they can run some good times and get some high finishes, I think it well help them going into next season.”
Going into the GLIAC meet, Filipek is the top ranked 800-meter runner.
“My goal is to win my third league championship,” he said. “I think anything less than that will be a disappointment.”
In order for the Cardinals to compete at the level they want, it is all a matter of having the mental capacity to do so.
“We have to focus and have a mental edge on our competitors,” Filipek said. “I think as long as we’re confident and maintain our focus, we will do well in the meet.”
With students finishing the last week of the semester, Filipek doesn’t believe it will be difficult to concentrate on academics.
“This is the first time I can remember that the GLIAC meet isn’t the week of our finals,” Filipek said. “It’s nice to be able to focus on our school work this week and not have to think about the league meet.”
The Cardinals will base their practice schedule for the week depending on when individuals have exams.
“I think at the beginning of the week, it’s going to be a little more easy going because if someone has an exam or needs to study, they need to take care of their academics before anything else,” Filipek said. “Toward the end of the week, we’ll get back into the swing of things.”