Hoekstra Highlights TU at Indiana Tech Monday Meet

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Taylor's men's track and field team battled against top teams at the Indiana Tech Invitational. The typical Indiana spring day consisted of sun, wind, rain and a lightning delay, yet the Trojans persevered as they turned in exciting outcomes. Senior steeplechaser Zach Hoekstra cruised to a national qualification and claimed TU's sole victory of the day.

In the steeplechase, Hoekstra clocked a career-best time of 9:25.48, claiming the 10th-fastest time in TU history as he took first-place overall and provisionally qualfied for NAIA Nationals. Quinn Rudy posted a fifth-place finish in 10:11.69 and Jack Hammond grabbed seventh place in 10:18.06.

Josh Harden competed in an outstanding 5,000-meter race under the lights. The junior posted an exciting lifetime-best time of 15:06.60 and finished in second place. Zach McKowen claimed 10th place, clocking a time of 15:50.44.

The middle-distance runners had success as well. In the 800-meters, Nate Conkel cranked out a career-best time of 1:55.41. The sophomore raced to third place overall. Ben Eiffert placed sixth in the 1,500-meters, recording a personal-best time of 4:01.24.

Jake Thompson turned in a seventh-place finish in the high jump after clearing a height of 1.92-meters.

Matthew Sakeuh competed in two events for the Trojans. Sakeuh sprinted to 10th place in the 400-meters, logging a time 50.57. The senior also finished 12th in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.55.

The Taylor team will split between three meets on Thursday, April 14. A few athletes will travel to California to compete at the Mt. Sac Relays and the Bryan Clay Invitational, while a handful of Trojans will stay in Indiana to perform at the Huntington Invite.