By: Ace Hunt
RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The SMWC track and field teams have scored early points with high individual performances and are set up for a big second day with many qualifiers after the prelims on Friday (April 25) after the opening day of the 2025 River States Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The meet is being hosted by Rio Grande (Ohio) with eight universities competing.
The SMWC men's track and field team has scored 17 points through the first day and in sixth place in the team standings.
The 2025 River States Conference Championships continue on Saturday, April 26 with events beginning at 11 am (ET).
Abbott Church tied a three-year old school record in the high jump with a leap of 1.85 meters (6-0.75) to set a new personal best and record a tie for fourth place which also netted SMWC a total of four points.
The 4 x 800 meter relay team of Thomas Chapman, Evan Polley, James Frye and Ethan DeHamer set a new school record with a sixth place finish in a time of 8:41.0 The performance scored three points for SMWC.
Thomas Chapman posted a seventh place finish in the 10,000 meter run to score two points for SMWC with a time of 32:26.82.
Darrius Megnin will advance to Saturday's finals in the 110 meter hurdles as he posted the second-fastest time of the day with a mark of 15.79 seconds.
Christian Woodard and Na'Sier Samuel moved on to the finals of the 200 meter dash as well. Woodard had the sixth-fastest time at 22.60 seconds while Samuel's time of 22.65 seconds was seventh-fastest.
Jaryn Patterson scored four points for SMWC in the pole vault with a fifth finish as he set a new personal best with a jump of 3.65 meters (12-0).
Eli Cox scored four points for the Pomeroys in the javelin throw with a mark of 41.05 meters (134-8) to post a fifth place finish in the event. Tristin Benskin tallied a 12th place finish in the hammer throw with a throw of 41.99 meters (137-9).
MiRon Starks posted a 12th place finish in the long jump as he covered 5.67 meters (18-7.25).
