Men's Track & Field Kicks Off Season with Home Victory

KENOSHA - The Carthage men's track & field team opened the 2024-25 season on Saturday by hosting the Forever Red Alumni Classic at the Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center. It was a special day for the Firebirds, as the program welcomed back several alumni and presented Joseph White with his NCAA Championship rings from the 2023-24 season.

The Firebirds placed first overall out of six collegiate teams with 118 points. Parkside placed second with 84 points, followed by Benedictine in third with 62 points. Lake Forest finished with 38 points, while Wheaton (Ill.) rounded out the top five NCAA teams with 35 points.

Other teams featured in the meet included the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), atk, NRCTC, and a handful of Carthage alumni.

SPRINTS

Dylan Parker and Alek Zavadoski finished in first and second place respectively in the 400-meter dash. Parker crossed the finish line in 51:49, while Zavadoski finished in 52.91. The duo combined for 18 points for the Firebirds.

Jaylan Nelson placed second in the 200-meter dash with a finishing time of 23.10.

DISTANCE

Ethan Walker opened the day for the Firebirds with a second-place finish in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:16.7, scoring eight points for Carthage in the first event of the meet.

Jacob Curulewski and Micah Anderson had a photo finish in the 3,000 meter run as Curulewski took the win in 8:50.10, while Anderson took second in 8:50.50.

Topher Davis placed second in the mile, opening his season with a 4:37.13.

JUMPS

Nnaemeka Obinna placed fifth in the long jump with a personal best mark of 6.58 meters.

THROWS

Tyler Rose and Jacob Brost finished in second and third in the shot put, with Rose reaching a mark of 14.38 meters and Brost throwing 12.81 meters.

The duo also scored in the weight throw, as Rose placed third with a throw of 17.66m, and Brost finished fourth at 15.97m.

Walker's 5,000-meter personal best of 15:04.81 ranks fourth all-time for the program. His season debut of 15:16.7 would have been good for seventh on the all-time list.
Obinna's opening mark in the long jump of 6.58 meters would have been the third farthest mark of the year for the Firebirds during the 2023-24 indoor season.

"I thought it was a strong season opening meet for us," said Head Coach Josh Henry. "This gives us a strong foundation heading into the 2025 season. Thank you to all of our alumni who made the trip back to campus to support!"

The Firebirds will return to action in 2025 as the season will continue on January 18 with Cartahge hosting the Firebird First Invitational at the Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Joseph White: Throws; 6' 3"; Senior

Micah Anderson: Distance; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

Jacob Brost: Throws; Junior

Jacob Curulewski: Distance; Junior

Topher Davis: Distance; 5' 8"; Graduate Student

Nnaemeka Obinna: Sprints; 6' 2"; Senior

Dylan Parker: Sprints; Sophomore

Tyler Rose: Throws; Junior

Alek Zavadoski: Sprints; Junior

Players Mentioned

Joseph White
: 6' 3"; Senior
: Throws

Micah Anderson
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: Distance

Jacob Brost
: Junior
: Throws

Jacob Curulewski
: Junior
: Distance

Topher Davis
: 5' 8"; Graduate Student
: Distance

Nnaemeka Obinna
: 6' 2"; Senior
: Sprints

Dylan Parker
: Sophomore
: Sprints

Tyler Rose
: Junior
: Throws

Alek Zavadoski
: Junior
: Sprints