SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Malone University track & field team took on elite competition from across the Midwest region at the Steemer Showcase on Saturday, hosted by Wittenberg University. The Pioneer men put together a great team effort and placed 5th of 22 teams and the women were 17th out of 21 institutions.
 
Phil Stupka scored points for the team in two individual events, the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash. He was third in the shorter of the two events with a time of 6.92 seconds in the event finals. Stupka was second overall in the 200 at 21.93, a new personal-best that improves upon his time that is third-best in program history. Bryant Thompson also improved upon his sixth-best mark in Malone history at 22.36 seconds, good for eighth at the event.
 
A runner-up finish was also credited to Xander Heil in the 3000-meter run. He had a time of 8:25.31 in his race. In the 60-meter hurdles, Otani Ekpe was third at 8.26 seconds, a mark that is now seventh in program history. Gavin Tribelo was third as well in the shot put (15.35 meters / 50' 4.50").
 
The final scoring members for the men's team came from the 500-meter run. Tyler Twining was fifth overall (1:09.10) and Eric Dehmer eighth (1:10.11).
 
The highest point scorer for the Pioneer women's team was Brooklyn McIntyre with a fourth-place time of 1:23.38 in the 500-meter run. Kristin Yeager completed the 3000-meter run in 10:25.41 to score a fifth-place finish. In field events, Megan Reifsnyder was the lone point scorer in the triple jump. She had a best score of 9.24 meters (30' 3.75").
 
Up next, Malone competes in the Jud Logan Light Giver Open at Ashland University. Events run from February 6-7.