Perry, Howard Set Program Marks; Chippewas Garner 3 Firsts

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Janelle Perry and Erin Howard set program records and Central Michigan track & field garnered three first-place finishes at the Virginia Challenge.

"I think all the event groups did something really good," CMU director of track & field Jenny Swieton said. "There's not an area where there wasn't a super good performance. I think they're starting to come together at the right time, which is good."

Perry set the CMU record in the long jump and Howard accomplished the feat in the shot put, giving the Chippewas two of their four firsts. The others came from Shane Moffo (men's 110-meter hurdles) and Dante Lander (men's 400 hurdles)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Perry's record came in the women's long jump as she measured at 20 feet, 7 ¾ inches. Her longest jump of the meet was 21-2 ½, but was wind aided and therefore does not count as the record. Still, Perry's 21-2 ½ is the fifth-longest this season by an NCAA Division I female.

Perry eclipsed the previous Chippewa record (20-5) set just last week Nadia Williams. Perry also finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.34 seconds.

Howard's program record came in the shot put as she measured 53 feet, 3 inches, as she placed second in the process. She broke the record of 53 feet set by Devene Brown in 2015.

Moffo won the men's 110 hurdles in 13.87 seconds, while Lander, a freshman, placed first in the men's 400 hurdles in 55.04.

CHIPPEWA PLACERS
Also for CMU, AJ Ferns placed third in the men's pole vault, 16-3 ½; Quiara Wheeler placed third in the women's hammer throw, 194-3; Gabriella Beauvais was sixth in the women's 200, 24.16; Logan Targgart was sixth in the men's hammer throw, 214-8; Connor Covert placed eighth in the men's discus, 163-3; Isaac Sadzewicz was ninth in the men's pole vault, 15-9 ¾; and Kevin Weiler placed ninth in the men's shot put, 58-3 ¼.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Among the other Chippewa highlights:

• Megan O'Neil finished 12^th in the women's 5,000-meter run in in 16:23.04, the second-fastest time in program history.

• Hannah Davis finished the women's 5,000 in 16:36.43, the fourth-best time in program history.

• Wheeler's hammer throw ranks second in program history behind teammate Marissa Dunn. Dunn, a sophomore, set the Chippewa standard (198-8) three weeks ago.

NEXT
The Chippewas will split the team next weekend with some traveling to Hillsdale College to compete in the Gina Relays on Thursday and Friday, April 25-26, and others heading to Ohio State for the Jesse Owens Classic on Friday and Saturday.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Gabriella Beauvais

Connor Covert

Hannah Davis

Marissa Dunn

Erin Howard

Dante Lander

Shane Moffo

Megan O'Neil

Janelle Perry

Isaac Sadzewicz

Logan Targgart

Kevin Weiler

Quiara Wheeler

Nadia Williams