Dominating peformances on the track and in the field events led Wabash to the title at Saturday's William Welch Invitational at Rose-Hulman.
Wabash swept the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Bart Banach opened with an 11.30 in the finals to take first place in the 100-meter dash, edging teammate Mike Russell with a 11.42. Russell took first in the 200-meter event with a time of 22.41, finishing just ahead of Banach (22.82). Freshman Ja'Michael Hill was third in the 200 (22.95) and fourth in the 100 (11.63).
Banach and Russell joined forces to help Wabash win both relay races. The duo combined with Nathan Bates and Hill in the 4 X 100 relay to win with a time of 43.07. Banach, Russell, Bates, and Geoff Lambert took first place in the 4 X 400 relay with a time of 3:23.16.
Bates and Lambert captured individual titles, as well. Bates broke the 50-second mark for the first time this season in the 400-meter dash, winning the event with a time of 49.74. Lambert was first in the 800 meters (1:56.65) and the 1500 meters (4:09.54). Hugh Jackson was second in the 1500 (4:12.31), while Ben Bly took third (4:13.86). Dennis Frazee was close behind in fifth place (4:15.85).
Thomas Bell was the winner in the triple jump with a leap of 39-07. Ben Tritle won the shot put (44-05.25) with Justin Sparks finishing third (41-10). John Tsintis took first in the discus throw with a toss of 119-10. Jon Reidy, fourth in the discus (116-11) won the hammer throw with a distance of 123-00. Nelson Barre scored team points for Wabash with a second place finish in the pole vault (12-03.25), as did Lincoln Smith with a second in the javelin throw (147-06) and Andrew Rode with a tie for second in the high jump (6-00). Tim Rickard added a second place finish in the 400-meter hurdles (1:00.67).
The Little Giants finished with 209.50 points. Rose-Hulman was second (173), while Denison (113) and Franklin (106.50) rounded out the team scoring.
Wabash will participate in the St. Joseph's Invitational next weekend in Rensselear, Indiana.