BOSTON, Mass. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Track & Field had two meets this weekend between the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Michigan, and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts.
 
At the GVSU Big Meet, all five Eagles who competed in the 5,000 meters earned a personal best. Freshman Alex Nolan (Evansville, Indiana) paved the way with a time of 14 minutes and 54.76 seconds to earn sixth place in his heat. In heat number five, it was freshman Landen Swiney (Du Quoin, Illinois) who set the tone for USI with a ninth-place finish and a time of 15:15.29. Right behind him was freshman Tyler Zimmerman (Evansville, Indiana) after crossing the line in 15:26.86 to finish in 15th place while freshman Mukal Verma (Palatine, Illinois) finished the race in 15:54.42 to place 24th. Senior Draven Thompson (Huntertown, Indiana) closed out the day with a 15:18.78 time and an 11th-place finish in heat seven.
 
In Boston, senior Mitchell Hopf (Santa Claus, Indiana) shattered his 5,000-meter personal record with a time of 14:19.38 to cross the line in 21st place in the unseeded event. Freshman Cole Hess (Cannelton, Indiana) beat out his previous personal-best time in the mile with a time of 4:15.89. Senior Noah Hufnagel (Santa Claus, Indiana) rounded out the Eagle runners by making a top-100 finish with a time of 14:10.35.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles close out the regular season with a trip to Terre Haute, Indiana for the ISU Open on Saturday, February 17. After the meet, USI will suit up for the Ohio Valley Conference Championships on February 21-22.