Wayne State's Ross Bunchek and John Kern had career-best days at the Drake Relays Saturday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa. Both athletes set new school records while also achieving NCAA qualifying marks in their respective event.
Bunchek, a junior from Valparaiso, Indiana, recorded a mark of 206'06 in the hammer throw to place ninth in a field of mostly NCAA Division I standouts. He shattered his previous school record of 202' 02” set last Friday (April 22nd) at the Nebraska Wesleyan Invitational. The 206' 6” mark was also an NCAA automatic qualifying mark in the event.
John Kern, a senior from Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, finished in sixth place in the 3,000 meter steeplechase event with a time of 9:03.14, which is an NCAA provisional national qualifying mark. The 9:03.14 was also a new WSC school record, topping the 9:05.82 mark of Matt Schneider set in 2009.
The remainder of the Wildcat track and field teams participated in the Al Sahli Northern State Invitational in Aberdeen, South Dakota, but the meet was cancelled halfway through the event due to poor weather in the area. The Wildcat throwers will participate in the Nebraska Open Sunday afternoon in Lincoln at Ed Weir Stadium at 2:00 p.m.
