Six Individual Champions Crowned at #BIGEASTtrack Championship

Sunday, March 1

Geneva, Ohio

ALL DAY

DePaul University

Big East Indoor Championships

DePaul men's and women's track & field at the 2020 BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio on Monday, March 1.

Photo by: BIG EAST Conference

Six Individual Champions Crowned at #BIGEASTtrack Championship

3/2/2020 6:01:00 PM | TRACK AND FIELD

Final Results Photo Gallery

Six Blue Demons took home gold, six earned silver and eight bring home bronze

GENEVA, Ohio — Following two days of strong performances amongst high-level competition, the DePaul track & field team earned multiple trips to the podium, including six first-place finishes at the BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field Championships presented by Jeep. The school records in the women's weight throw, women's shot put and men's 4x800-meter relay also fell at the competition held at the SPIRE Institute.

DePaul entered the Olympic and Paralympic training facility with high energy that jump started day two of the conference meet. The first Blue Demon to bring home gold, Jade Gates bested her school record on Sunday with a weight throw measuring 20.20 meters. The junior from St. Louis also made up one-half of the Women's Most Outstanding Co-Performer in Field Events honor that was shared with Niki Ezeh from Butler.

Continuing success in the ring and updating the record books was freshman Mackenna Orie in the shot put competition with a toss of 15.13 meters. Her toss replaced the previous record of 14.92 meters set in 2012 by Alanna Kovacs. Jade Gates set a new PR in the event with a distance of 14.08 meters.

Also earning spots on the podium for the women were: Terece Brown, 2nd in triple jump; Tori Carroll, 2nd in 60m dash; Kiersten Walker, 2nd in 400m dash; Chasady Johnson, Rutendo Chimbaru, Isabel Ingram and Kiersten Walker, 2nd in the 4x400 relay; Walker, 3rd in the 200m dash; Ingram, 3rd in the 60m hurdles; and Rebecca Chouinard, 3rd in the weight throw.

"This meet brought the highest level of competition out of not only our squad, but out of the entire conference," said DePaul head coach Dave Dopek. "The entire league came out to fight and it showed in the quality of performances."

For the men's squad, the quartet of Chris Ahlers, Shane Knanishu, Michael Parry and Ben Lee updated the DePaul indoor program record in the 4x800-meter relay with a time of 7:33.59. The previous record of 7:38.24 set by M. Clink, L. Junk, I. Sanchez and C. Miedema also in 2012.

Bringing home gold championship medals were senior sprinters Ashton Colaire and Kyle Mastrangeli along with sophomore Henry Larkin and freshman thrower Jason Montano.

Culminating a successful capstone indoor season, Ashton Colaire crossed the line at 8.03 to take home first place in the 60-meter hurdles. The Pickering, Ontario native currently holds the program record in the event after marking a time of 8.00 flat at the Illini Invitational in January.

Fellow DePaul record holder Kyle Mastrangeli earned a spot atop the championship podium in the 60-meter dash. The senior from Elgin sprinted across the line at the 6.77 mark to earn gold. His record time of 6.75 was set at the Big Meet hosted by Grand Valley State in February.

Capturing the 400-meter title in the league's outdoor championship last season, Henry Larkin earned gold in the indoor 400m dash. The sophomore from Oakland, Calif. clocked a time of 46.95 to take home the title and contribute to the overall point total.

In the ring, freshman Jason Montano wrapped up his first indoor season as a Blue Demon standing atop the podium for his performance the shot put competition. The newcomer from Saco, Maine launched a 16.27 mark to earn his first BIG EAST medal. He was joined on the podium by teammate Alex Murray whose 14.68-meter throw was good for bronze.

Also earning podium finishes for the men were: Adam Nelson, 2nd in 60m dash; Jarel Terry, Brendan van Voorhis, Ashton Colaire and Henry Larkin, 2nd in the 4x400 relay; Alex Murray, 3rd in weight throw; Adam Nelson, 3rd in 200m dash; and Michael Parry, 3rd in the 800m run.

"This was all just a taste of what we plan on giving BIG EAST competition from now on," said Dopek. "We are an outdoor team - we know this. We look forward to building off this momentum as we head to the outdoor season."

Up Next
The Blue Demons begin their outdoor season in the Lone Star State competing in the 93rd Annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays hosted by the University of Texas from March 25-28 and Texas State's Bobcat Invitational March 27 & 28.

DePaul Podium Finishers
1st - Jade Gates, weight throw
2nd - Terece Brown, triple jump
2nd - Tori Carroll, 60m
2nd - Kiersten Walker, 400m
2nd - Chasady Johnson, Rutendo Chimbaru, Isabel Ingram, Kiersten Walker; 4x400
3rd - Kiersten Walker, 200m
3rd - Isabel Ingram, 60mH
3rd - Rebecca Chouinard, weight throw

1st - Ashton Colaire, 60mH
1st - Henry Larkin, 400m
1st - Kyle Mastrangeli, 60m
1st - Jason Montano, shot put
2nd - Adam Nelson, 60m
2nd - Jarel Terry, Brendan van Voorhis, Ashton Colaire, Henry Larkin; 4x400
3rd - Alex Murray, shot put
3rd - Alex Murray, weight throw
3rd - Adam Nelson, 200m
3rd - Michael Parry, 800m
3rd - Chris Ahlers, Shane Knanishu, Michael Parry, Ben Lee; 4x800

Standings – Final
Women's Results (18 Events Scored)