Senior Robbie Brinkman breaks school record, leads Men's Indoor Track & Field in season-opening OAC Split Meet

By Thomas McArdle

ALLIANCE – The Ohio Northern men's indoor track and field team opened its 2016 season on Friday at the Ohio Athletic Conference Split Meet at Mount Union's Peterson Fieldhouse.

The Polar Bears (3-1 overall) finished second of five teams with 150 points. Mount Union won the team title with 171 points, Baldwin Wallace was third with 91 points, John Carroll was fourth with 85 points and Heidelberg was fifth with 76 points.

Senior Robbie Brinkman broke the school record in the 60-meter hurdles in :08.62 in the prelims to lead Ohio Northern. His time broke the record of :08.66 set by sophomore Matt Craven last season. Brinkman placed third in the finals in :09.23.

Northern had three first place finishes on Friday.

Junior Andrew Harden won the 1000 in 2:39.13 and sophomore Matt Molinaro won the 500 in 1:07.20.

The distance medley relay team of junior Kase Schalois, junior Ian McKee, Molinaro and Harden won in 10:33.30.

Senior Brandon Ike placed second in the pole vault by clearing 4.55 meters, which was the ninth-best effort in school history.

Junior Zane Augustine was fifth in the weight throw with a throw of 14.37, placing him fourth all-time in school history.

Senior Christian Rupe ran the seventh fastest 60 dash in school history at :07.10, taking fourth in the event.

Sophomore William Wilson placed second in the triple jump at 11.60 meters and was third in the high jump at 1.91 meters.

"Very solid first meet for the men," ONU head coach Jason Maus said. "We are pleased with where we are as a team and the opportunity to get better. We've got a lot of balance and some places were we are really deep as a team."

The Polar Bears will return to action next Saturday when they travel to the Grand Valley State (Mich.) Invitational.