Track & Field Captures Three Podium Finishes on First Day of B1G Indoor Championships

GENEVA, Ohio – Michigan State track & field opened the first day of competition in Geneva, Ohio at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, recording three podium finishes at the SPIRE Instiute. 

The Spartans kicked off Day One with a pair of qualifiers in the first round of the men’s and women’s miles. In the men’s mile, graduate student John Petruno finished fourth in his heat, running 4:13.05, to earn an automatic qualifying spot into Saturday’s final. In the first heat, juniors Luke Perelli (4:07.40, eighth) and Alexander Penski (4:08.13, ninth) both ran personal bests, but narrowly missed out on qualifying for the final as both time qualifiers came fifth and sixth place in heat one. 

In the women’s mile, sophomore Olivia Millen used a six-second personal best of 4:45.94 to clinch the final time-qualifying spot, finishing sixth in her heat. Senior Alison Ziehl narrowly missed qualification, finishing third in her heat with a time of 4:51.53. 

Petruno will run in the men’s mile final on Saturday at 1:20 p.m., followed by Millen in the women’s final at 1:30 p.m. 

MSU picked up its first points of the day in the men’s pole vault final, led by fifth-year senior Trevor Stephenson, who earned runner-up honors in the event with a 5.35m clearance. After missing his first attempt at 5.45m, Stephenson passed his final two attempts at the height to opt for two attempts at 5.55m. Indiana’s Nathan Stone used a first-attempt 5.45m clearance for the win, as Stephenson was unable to clear 5.55m. Teammate Michael Davenport finished fourth, clearing 5.15m. Both Stephenson and Davenport had their best Big Ten Championship finishes in the event. 

The Spartans began the sprinting events Friday afternoon with the men’s 400m, where sophomore Noah Sage finished second in his heat and 11th overall in the prelims with a time of 47.65. In the women’s 400m prelims, graduate student Nala Barlow ran 56.28 for 18th place and junior Lexy Alston ran an indoor personal best of 57.96. Senior Antonio Postell finished 12th in the 60m prelims with a time of 6.84, and senior Amani Nuels clocked 7.50 on the women’s side to finish 18th.  

Continuing in the distance events Friday afternoon, senior Judith Rector ran a personal best of 2:08.70 in the women’s 800m prelims, finishing just two spots out of Saturday’s final. Junior Abbey Carvey finished…