Wabash scored five first place individual titles on the way to a second place team finish at Saturday's Manchester Invitational.
Dan Ruge (SR/Chesterton, IN/Chesterton) led the way with a first in the 800 meters with a time of 1:59.39 to go with his first place finish in the 1500 meters (4:12.85). Freshman Matt Feipel (Hoagland, IN/Heritage) took third place in the 800, finishing the race in 2:02.65.
Freshman Dennis Frazee (Griffith, IN/Calumet) took the top spot in the 5000 meters with a time of 16:32.91. Fellow newcomer Eric Morris (FR/Ft. Wayne, IN/Ft. Wayne Snider) finished first in the discus with a throw of 141 feet, nine inches. Freshman Nathan Bates (Ossian, IN/Norwell) was the top runner in the 400-meter dash, crossing the line in 49.90. Steve Cottom (JR/Rosedale, IN/Riverton Parke) took third in the race (52.95).
Sean Gerold (JR/Crawfordsville, IN/Crawfordsville) added the final first place finish for the Little Giants after throwing the hammer 139 feet, one inch for the best effort of the day. Teammate Dave Pitcher (SO/Ft. Wayne, IN/Carroll) took third in the hammer throw with a toss of 121 feet, ten inches.
Freshman Josh Jones (North Richland Hills, TX/Nolan Catholic) added two second place finishes. Jones had a leap of 19-07 in the long jump and cleared 6-02 in the high jump. Ashley Stephen (FR/Centerville, IN/Centerville) took third in the high jump (5-08), while Kobie Adams (SR/Tema, Ghana/International Baccalaureate) was third in the long jump (18-08). Freshman Jared Jackson (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) completed the field events for the Little Giants with a second place finish in the pole vault (12-00).
Wabash freshman Keith Clayton (Colorado Springs, CO/Fountain Valley School) returned from an injury to take second place in the 400 hurdles with a time of 58.64. Zack Kaur (JR/LaPorte, IN/LaPorte) added a third place finish in the 110 high hurdles (17.57). Senior Artie Montes (Mission, TX/Mission) took third in the 100-meter dash (11.86).
Wabash finished with 92.50 points. Bethel College won the meet with 102 points. The host Manchester Spartans were third with 87.50.
The Little Giants will compete in the annual Little State Meet at IUPUI on Saturday.