FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Trine University men's track and field team was in action on Friday night at Indiana Tech for the first full squad meet of the season. The Thunder were able to set one new school record and set the tone for a successful indoor campaign with multiple quality times and scores to begin 2023-24.

Senior Jake Gladieux set a new career-best in the 60-meter hurdles with the first time in school history under eight seconds at 7.99 to secure the race win. Senior Greysen Spohn (8.27 seconds) and freshman Zion Jackson (8.42 seconds) also secured top-five finishing positions in fourth and fifth.

This group was active in other events as well, including the top finishes in four other events. Gladieux led off the 4x400-meter relay team of he, freshman Morgan Johnson, senior Ryan Smith and junior Ethan Spahr that ran a time of 3:29.27 to place third. Jackson was fifth in the long jump at 7.00 meters (22' 11.75") as well as Spohn in the high jump at 1.94 meters (6' 4.25"). Spohn was also eighth to lead Trine in the 200-meter run at 23.05 seconds.

Sophomore Tyler Hartleroad (second), junior Philip Nemechek (fourth) and sophomore Matthew Rankin (fifth) led the Thunder in the mile run at 4:27.68, 4:37.49 and 4:39.52. Freshman Zack Gaynor was third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:03.74 as well as tenth place finishes by junior Maxwell Harris in the 60-meter dash (7.07 seconds) and Ryan Smith in the 400-meter run (51.91 seconds). Senior Blane Johnson was just outside the top-10 in 13th in the 600-meter run at 1:30.67.

In throws, junior Dillon Dennison was third in the weight throw at 14.96 meters (49' 1.00") while senior Alexander Lewis was fourth in the shot put at 14.39 meters (47' 2.50"), Junior Andrew Cogswell seventh in the triple jump at 11.60 meters (38' 0.75") and Morgan Johnson seventh in the pole vault at 4.30 meters (14' 1.25").

After Christmas break, the Thunder are at home for the first time this season for the Sean Brady Alumni Invitational on Saturday, January 13.