By Mia Gallagher · Sports Editor
The Grove City College track and field teams returned to action on Saturday at SPIRE Institute’s Midwest Open.
The competition — which featured programs from all three NCAA collegiate levels — saw Wolverines from both teams outplace their DIII competitors. It also featured two individual meet-winning performances from members of the men’s program.
Securing one of these two wins was freshman Elijah Divito, who clinched victory in the high jump by clearing 6 feet, 6 ¾ inches. Not only did this performance top the competition’s podium, but it also allowed Divito to set a Grove City College program record in the process. Divito also chipped in a sixth-place finish in the long jump.
Notching the team’s other individual win was senior Alex Mitchell, whose time of 48.74 seconds took the 400-meter for the Wolverines. Joining Mitchell for the 400 was soph omore Jeremiah Knowles, who took fifth overall.
Grove City also fared well in the pole vault with three Wolverines — sophomore William Britton and seniors Michael Chambers and Tucker Owens — all finishing in the top 10. Sophomore Caleb Haley and freshman Colsen Frank rounded out the men’s performance with top 10 finishes in the triple jump and 3000 m, respectively.
Headlining the women’s performance was sophomore Hannah Herrmann, who took second in the pole vault with a program record-setting mark of 11 feet, 3 ¾ inches. Herrmann was joined by classmates Kiara White and Nadine Lauffer, who chipped in fourth-place finishes in the 60 m and 400 m, respectively.
In the distance events, senior Audrey Karwowski took fifth in the 800 m and junior Cayla Lawrence clinched seventh in the mile. Junior Kendall Coddington and sophomore Lucy Gyergyo rounded out the Wolverines’ top finishers with sixth- and eighth-place wins in their respective field events.
Both teams will travel to Youngstown, Ohio to compete in the Youngstown State Mid-Major Invitational today and tomorrow to continue their 2026 winter programs.
