ASHLAND — Strong winds couldn’t slow the Ashland University track & field team at this weekend’s Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships at the Schar Athletic Complex in Ashland.

The prelims were all over, and Friday was the time for podium placement and preparing for nationals.

“I was a little scared about how the wind was, you can tell yourself, this wind is super, super hard, and on that backstretch is where you really fell it, that backstretch into the 200,” Ashland’s Myles Pringle said. “I just knew, keep going, keep pushing, get that PR, but today wasn’t meant to be a PR day, but practice for nationals.”

Pringle won the 400 meters with a time of 45.5, a new GLIAC record. He also was the fastest in the 200 meters with a 20.58 mark.

“Beforehand, I was having a little knee problems, with my left knee, but other than that, the race itself felt pretty good,” Pringle said.

The Ashland men’s 4×400 relay was best in conference, clocked at 3:13.18.

In women’s high jump, Ellie Jindra of Ashland elevated to 1.75m and won the event.

Ashland dominated both men’s and women’s hammer throw as well, with first place finishes by Nick Zak (60.83m) and MacKenzie Leigh (57.84m).

“I feel a lot more confident at this point. I was really pleased with today, obviously, you always want the win; I was happy with my distance and happy that it came in the first three rounds,” Leigh said.

The winning continued into shot put, where Megan Tomei launched the shot 15.66m, the best of the day. Even the younger student-athletes on Ashland’s squad were getting in on the medal action.

“That really just was, a crazy event. We went out too slow, and I was just hoping to score some points today, and then ended up getting a third place spot, as a freshman, I was just, more than happy with the day,” Ashland’s Jake Hall said. “Even the two guys behind me, we’re young and returning so we have a really strong crew coming up.”

Despite the constantly changing weather, the Eagles had the extra support of the home crowd and the familiar track.

“Today’s been really good, our team is competing really well at the conference meet; it’s nice to be on our home track, this is a track we practice on every day, blood, sweat and tears here,” Ashland’s Trevor Bassit said. “So far I’m pretty happy with what the whole team’s doing. I was happy with how the ‘110s’ did, I would have liked to win, but can’t complain, I PR’d, in one of the toughest hurdle conferences, and I know our relay is going to be really dangerous.”

On Thursday, Ashland earned more first place finishes. In the discus, Alex Hill threw 54.26m, Romi Smith’s javelin went 41.93m and Dylan Kipp’s went 54.14m, Pringle’s high jump was 2.14m, all were good enough for gold medals.

Coverage of Ashland University Eagles athletics is produced in partnership with OhioHealth, the official sports medicine provider for Ashland University.