Day 1 Results

GALESBURG, Ill. – Cornell's men crowned two individual champions and grabbed the lead in the team race after an outstanding Day 1 at the Midwest Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Friday inside Knox's T. Fleming Fieldhouse.
 
The Rams loaded up points in the distance races, highlighted by titles from senior Aaron Davidson in the 5000 and freshman Isaak Hutchings in the mile. That helped vault Cornell into first place in the nine-team field through six scored events.
 
The Rams have compiled 54 points, followed by Monmouth in second (44) and Ripon in third (40). Action resumes at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
 
The top-seeded Davidson raced to victory in the 5000 with a mark of 15:27.61, crossing the line six seconds ahead of Adam Bruce of Lawrence. Davidson became Cornell's first conference indoor champion at 5000 meters since 2012 (Ben Jacobs).
 
The Rams added two more point scorers in the 5000 with Caleb Schopen placing fourth (15:43.52) and Emery Bird taking sixth (15:52.33).
 
Hutchings delivered the performance of the day for Cornell in a tightly-contested mile. The first-year competitor clocked a quick time of 4:20.95, nipping runner-up challenger Riley Dulin by a mere .12 seconds. Hutchings shaved 15 seconds off his season-best mark to claim gold.
 
Freshman Gabe Soda crossed fourth in the mile (4:28.64) and Davidson was fifth (4:29.98).
 
Cornell fielded three placewinners in the shot put, led by Brad Pace in fourth (43-6). Brock Flack finished sixth (42-6) and Nathan Watters eighth (41-7).
 
The sprint medley relay of Doniel Greiner, Sam O'Hara, Thomas Machande and Tyler Bilskie finished fourth in 3:46.07. Cornell got a sixth-place finish from the 4x200 quartet of O'Hara, Jacob Engelken, Niko Platre and Felix Owusu Ansah.
 
Engelken clocked an impressive 60 hurdles time of 8.92 in the prelims. He is the fastest qualifier for Saturday's finals by .29 seconds.