Results

GALESBURG, Illinois – The 2015 indoor track and field season began with seven top two placements in contested events and seven new all-time top 10 marks for Knox at the Fire Starter Invitational on Saturday at T. Fleming Fieldhouse.

The Prairie Fire competed against Ashford University, Culver-Stockton College, Lindenwood University-Belleville, Brescia University, and unattached athletes in the unscored meet.

Sophomore Josh Tvrdy (Tucson, AZ, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy) led a strong long-distance charge for Knox with his first place finish in the mile.  His time of 4:39.68 ranks #6 on the Knox men's all-time top 10 individual list for the event and was nearly six seconds faster than his previous personal best (4:45.38).  Tvrdy also placed second in the 3000 meter race.

The Prairie Fire men also received runner-up finishes by senior Ezekiel Jere (Lusaka, Zambia, SOS Hermann-Gmeiner International) in the 800 meters, first-year Michael Anderson (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) in the 600, junior Brennan Mc Glauchlen (Inver Grove Heights, MN, Simley) in the shot put, and the 4x400 meter relay team of Jere, senior Chaz Benton (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg), sophomore Jeremy Rainey-Brown (Chicago, IL, Walter Payton College Prep), and first-year Donnye Sommerville-Thomas (Clayton, MO, Clayton).

First-year sprinters Hakeem Gill (Willowbrook, IL, Hinsdale South) and Michael Moss (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) added their names to the all-time individual list in the 60 meter dash.  Gill's time of 7.66 seconds is tied for #3 on the list while Moss crossed the finish line in 7.92 seconds for #8.

Junior Carolina Goncalves (Chicago, IL, Walter Payton College Prep) placed first in the 600 meters for the Knox women's squad.  First-year Rebecca Katz (Columbia, MO, David H. Hickman) ran the mile in 5:53.04, which ranks #5 on the all-time performance list and #3 on the all-time individual list.  First-year Frances Larsen (Anchorage, AK, West Anchorage) established a new top 10 time in the mile as well.  She finished the race in 6:02.20 for the #9 spot on the all-time individual list.

Katz also ranks #10 on the individual list for the 3000 meters with her time of 12:04.57.

The Prairie Fire compete next in the Monmouth College Midwest Invite next Saturday.