Michigan
Hillsdale Last Chance Classic
Wolverine Decathletes Compete at Hillsdale
5/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
May 7, 2015
Site: Hillsdale, Mich. (Ken Herrick Outdoor Track)
Event: Hillsdale "Last Chance" Classic
U-M Team Result: Non-scoring
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 8 -- at Toledo Collegiate Invitational - Day 2 (Toledo, Ohio), 9 a.m.
HILLSDALE, Mich. -- A young trio from the University of Michigan men's track and field team was in competition at an in-state meet this weekend, competing in the decathlon at Hillsdale College's "Last Chance" Classic. After kicking things off on Wednesday (May 6), U-M wrapped up competition at the in-state meet today (Thursday, May 7) at the Chargers' Ken Herrick Outdoor Track.
For many competitors, the "Last Chance" Classic represents a final opportunity to achieve NCAA Regional qualifying marks, but for the Maize and Blue, it provided a chance for several young athletes to gain valuable experience.
Sophomore/freshman Ryan Hall and true freshmen Ben Hester and Charlie DeJonge represented the block M. Hall earned an eighth-place finish, while Hester and DeJonge were unable to complete all 10 events.
A Carmel Valley, California, native, Hall tallied 5,145 points in total. Prior to this week's action in nearby Hillsdale, Hall's lone competition representing the Wolverines came during the indoor season, when he long jumped at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational (Jan. 17). He is now the third Wolverine to complete a decathlon this season.
Hester set new personal bests in two of four events on Wednesday (May 6), the first day of competition, including a one-foot improvement in the high jump. During today's closing five events, the Kentwood, Michigan, native competed in the discus, javelin and 110-meter hurdles before being unable to continue during the pole vault competition, but he scored 723 points in the high jump, his highest score of any event.
DeJonge established three personal bests on the first day of events, and he added another three PRs during today's events for a two-day total of six. He scored more points in the 110m hurdles than in any other contest, running (15.58) for 736 points. He completed nine events but was unable to finish the 400m race.
For Hall, the two-day competition served as his first full decathlon in Maize and Blue, while Hester and DeJonge competed in their first-ever decathlons at the UVA Challenge (April 17-18). The Maize and Blue will resume competition in Toledo tomorrow (Friday, May 8) with the Toledo Collegiate Invitational. The javelin begins at 9 a.m., and track events will pick up in the afternoon at 1:10 p.m. with the 1,500m run.
N O T E S
• Sophomore/freshmen Austin Brenner and true freshman John Weeks also competed in the decathlon as unattached athletes but did not complete the competition.
Personal Records
Ben Hester (D) -- 100m dash (11.90); High Jump (6-3.25 ft.; 1.91m)
Charles DeJonge (D) -- 100m dash (11.58); Long Jump (19-8.75 ft.; 6.01m); Shot Put (35-6.50 ft.; 10.83m); 110m hurdles (15.58); Pole Vault (11-11.75 ft.; 3.65m); Javelin (146-09 ft.; 44.74m)
(D) = Decathlon
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
