BETHLEHEM, Pa.- The Juniata men's track and field team made its return to competition in 2024 as they traveled to the Moravian University Indoor Meet at the Rauch Field House on Lehigh University's campus. Colson Lewis' 60-meter time earned him a spot in the program's record books, as he set Juniata's third best time in the event.
Lewis logged a 7.09 to finish in fifth place from a field of 41. With a 7.09, he sits 0.09 seconds away from besting Dustin Sier for second place with his 7.00 set at the Dickinson Holiday Meet in 2006. Three other Eagles competed in the 60 meters. Isaiah Huffstutler had the next best mark for Juniata, a 7.26 for a 12th-place finish and a 0.08-second improvement for a new personal best time. Lincoln Riddle finished in 30th place with a time of 7.58, while Ivan Foreman was 37th with a time of 7.81.
Lewis also set the pace for Juniata in the 200 meters, logging a 23.72 that slotted him in ninth place from 35 competing. Huffstutler also set a personal best in the 200 meters with his 24.98 to earn 27th place. He reduced his previous best mark by 0.11 seconds, second at Susquehanna a month ago. Caleb Massare set his first 200-meter time of the season, a 25.05 that earned him 29th place. Foreman finished in 35th with a time of 25.05.
Ellis Kline and Augie Secco each competed in both the 800-meter and the 3000-meter events. Secco's first 800-meter time was 2:20.05 to finish in 24th place, while Kline was 29th with a time of 2:34.84. In the 3000 meters, Secco's 10:43.66 earned him 24th place, while Kline was 26th with a time of 10:49.61.
Juniata's track competitors closed out the day by setting the team's first 4x400-meter relay time of the indoor season. Riddle, Massare, Huffstutler, and Gavin Robb logged a 4:00.31 to finish in 12th place.
The throwing trio of Barrett Walters, Luke Bittner, and Logan Hackenberg each competed in the weight throw and shot put.
Walters led the way in the weight throw with a mark of 12.56 meters to finish in 14th place. Hackenberg set a new personal best of 8.97 meters for a 28th-place result, while Bittner threw 8.93 meters to finish in 29th place. Hackenberg picked up 1.47 meters on his previous best, set at the Susquehanna Early Season Invite in December.
Walters threw 10.57 meters in the shot put, slotting him in 28th place. Bittner was in 37th place with a mark of 7.93 meters, while Hackenberg was 38th with a mark of 6.28 meters.
Robb and Sean Buckley both attempted the pole vault, but they were unable to clear 3.35 meters.
The Juniata men's track and field team heads to Franklin & Marshall College this Saturday, January 27th, for the Mini-Dip Invitational.
