Men's Track and Field in Fourth Place After Day One of the MVC Outdoor Championships

NORMAL, Ill. -- After its first day of competing in the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships, the Belmont University men's track and field team sits in fourth place with 12 total points. The Bruins' first day of competition was headlined by an impressive performance by Bo Miller in the javelin throw.

Miller, who competed alongside Ben Miller in competition, earned the title as the first ever MVC champion on the men's side with a powerful heave of 57.02m, which neared his top mark of the season (59.02m) set at the Yellow Jacket Invite earlier in the season. Ben Miller, claimed seventh place with a throw of 48.31, also nearing a personal best he set at the Ole Miss Classic earlier this season. 

Jacob Ricks and Zac Shaffer started off competition for Belmont on Friday in the 10,000m run. Among a loaded field of talented runners, Ricks finished eighth overall in 31:21.48 with Shaffer close behind in 31:31.71 as both runners finished around 8:30 a.m.

Three Bruins ran in the 1500m; Joel Wolf, Gavin Morrow and Jack Zettl. Wolf finished ninth overall with a time of 3:51.49, securing a spot in Sunday's finals. Morrow did the same, finishing 16th overall with a personal best time of 3:57.24. Zettl finished in 4:00.11.

Jayden Gray was the lone Bruin in the 200m. While competing in the preliminary trials, Gray achieved a new personal best time as he crossed the finish line in 21.71.

Ian Robertson, who is competing in the decathlon, currently sits in seventh place with 3,045 points halfway through his event. He will resume action on Saturday morning.

A complete list of Belmont student-athletes who competed on Friday with overall finishes can be found below.

Friday, May 12
Javelin Throw 
Bo Miller -- 1st -- 57.02
Ben Miller -- 7th -- 48.31

10,000m
Jacob Ricks -- 8th -- 31:21.48
Zac Shaffer -- 9th -- 31:31.71

1500m preliminaries 
Joel Wolf -- 9th -- 3:51.49
Gavin Morrow -- 16th -- 3:57.24
Jack Zettl -- 20th -- 4:00.11

200m preliminaries 
Jayden Gray -- 15th -- 21.71

Decathlon 
Ian Robertson -- 3,045 points -- 100m (8th) 11.75  -- Long Jump (4th) 6.39m -- Shot Put (6th) 9.97m -- High Jump (6th) 1.71m -- 400m (6th) 54.11 

Hammer Throw
Jackson Grant -- FOUL

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