ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - The University of Dubuque men's track and field team had a strong showing at the second day of the Meet of Champions at Augustana University on Friday afternoon. The Spartans had eight total eights mark move into the top 20 in the country with their performances on Friday. Leading the Spartans were five events winners. Jacob Edwards (shot put), Jaidyn Williams (Triple Jump), Lucas Cummings (Hammer), Blake Hardison (110 meter hurdles), and the 4x100m relay (Jaidyn Williams, Jaberrius Peake, Blake Hardison, Jaylen Bell). 

Jacob Edwards moved into third nationally after his shot performance. Edwards launched a huge personal best mark with 18.29 meter to win the event at Augustana. Jaidyn Williams moved into sixth nationally in the triple jump after a 14.72 meter jump on his final attempt of the competition to earn the win. Lucas Cummings set another best this week as he launched a 59.80m throw in the hammer to move into sixth in the country. Blake Hardison ran a 14.22 preliminary time to move into fifth nationally. He then ran a 14.32 time in the final to earn the victory. The final event winner came from the 4x100m relay who finished with a time of 40.78 for the fourth fastest time in the country. 

Other individuals who made an impact in the national standing were Otis Patterson and Jaberrius Peake in the 200 meter dash. Patterson finished as the runner-up in the event with a personal best of 21.36 to move into eighth in the country and 7th iin UD history. Peake ran his seasons best to finish in third with a time of 21.43 and currently sits 17th nationally. Senior Jaylen Bell also made his name known after a strong showing in the 100 meter dash. Bell ran a time of 10.54 to finish fourth in the event and have the 12th fastest time in the country so far. 

It was also the final day of the decathlon as Ryker Strong finished the ten event multi competition with 5,913 points to finish sixth overall. Strong also moves into second all-time in UD history after competing his first decathlon. 

University of Dubuque Top Five Finishers

100m Dash
4 Jaylen Bell - 10.54 *12th in DIII

200m Dash
2 Otis Patterson - 21.36 *Eighth in DIII
3 Jaberrius Peake - 21.43 *17th in DIII

110m Hurdles
1 Blake Hardison 14.22 (P) 14.32 (F) *Fifth in DIII

4x100m Relay
1 University of Dubuque (Jaidyn Williams, Jaberrius Peake, Blake Hardison, Jaylen Bell) - 40.78 *Fourth in DIII

High Jump
3 Otis Patterson 1.96m

Long Jump
4 Otis Patterson - 7.07m

Triple Jump
1 Jaidyn Williams - 14.72m *Sixth in DIII

Shot Put
1 Jacob Edwards - 18.29m *Third in DIII
2 Dakota Hoffman - 16.76m

Hammer Throw
1 Lucas Cummings - 59.80m *Sixth in DIII
3 Zach Steffensen - 58.06m 

Decathlon
6 Ryker Strong - 5,913 points **Second All-Time at UD

Up Next
The Spartans will have another busy weekend next week as the Spartans travel to Whitewater, Wisconsin for the UW Whitewater Drake Alternative. Others will travel to the Des Moines for the annual Drake Relays, and Simpson College for Kip Javerin Open all on Friday April 25. See the University of Dubuque Track and Field Schedules for updated times and meet information.