Kent State University
Stan Romanoski Open
Kent State Enjoys Return to Outdoor Competition, Earning Three Wins
3/20/2021 9:27:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
MORGANTOWN, W.Va – Three student-athletes earned wins and several others picked up top-five finishes as Kent State returned to outdoor track and field competition Saturday at West Virginia University's Stan Romanoski Open.
Lukas Van Der Watt and Kristian Kneffler led things off for the Golden Flashes, going 1-2 in the men's pole vault early. Van Der Watt cleared 16'-4.75" to bring home the win, while Kneffler cleared 15'-5" for second.
Brad Jones kept things going in the men's high jump, clearing the bar at 6'-7" to claim victory in his first competition of 2021. TJ Lawson joined him in the top three, clearing 6'-4.75" for third in his first event of the day. Lawson also had a solid showing in the men's discus, throwing 149'-4". The mark is one inch off his personal-best and was good for the second.
Rounding out competition for the men were Scott Benco and Bradley Heck, who took the top two spots in the javelin. Benco was victorious in his collegiate debut with a throw of 197'-5", while Heck competed for the first time since 2019 and took second comfortably with a throw of 189'-1".
On the women's side, the trio of Grace Tennant, Vanessa Vodan, and Grace Frye took spots two through four in the javelin. Tennant threw 148"-2", Vodan followed her with a 139'-5" mark, and Frye made her collegiate debut in the javelin with a 115"-1" toss.
In the pole vault, Ally Thompson and Sami Ice both cleared 12'-0.5". Thompson finished in a tie for second place, while Ice placed fourth misses.
Kent State will return to competition on Friday, April 2 with a trip to nearby Youngstown State for the Northeast Ohio Quad.
Players Mentioned
