The Hillsdale College men's track and field team returned from Christmas break with a strong performance on the track at Friday's Al Campbell Invitational at Akron University, setting several new marks.

Senior and defending NCAA DII weight throw national champion Ben Haas led the way with a double victory in the throws, winning the weight throw with a mark of 21.55 meter and the shot put with a mark of 17.79 meters. Both finishes improved his provisional marks nationally in those events, as Haas now ranks second in NCAA DII in the weight throw and eighth in the shot put after Friday's competition.

Competing alongside Haas, freshman Dominic Scharer also had a solid day, placing second behind Haas in the weight throw with a personal best mark of 20.03 meters that ranks fourth all-time in Hillsdale College history and sixth in NCAA DII currently. Junior Dimitry Ermakov also placed ninth in the weight throw for the Chargers with a mark of 17.41 meters.

On the track, freshman Watson Magwenzi had an impressive day in the sprints, finishing fourth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 22.13 that ranks ninth all-time indoors in Hillsdale College history. Magwenzi also tied his personal best of 6.99 in the 60m dash to finish ninth.

Senior Ross Kuhn won the 800m dash in an impressive time of 1:53.32 for the Chargers, moving into eighth all-time indoors in Hillsdale College history with the finish in a strong performance in his first meet of the indoor season.

Another senior, Alfonso Garcia, placed fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 13.54 meters, the ninth-best mark indoors all-time at Hillsdale College as well.

Several other Hillsdale athletes had respectable performances. Senior Gabriel Phillips took eighth in the mile run with a time of 4:21.17, and senior Connor McCormick also placed eighth in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.66 meters. Freshmen Wyatt Widolff and Jack Polizzi finished close together in the 400m dash, with Widolff placing ninth in a personal best time of 49.91, and Polizzi placing 10th in 50.14. 

Fellow freshman Henry Thuet placed 10th in his debut race in the 800m run in 1:56.54, and sophomore Sam Jones took 10th in the 200m dash in 22.46.

Hillsdale next competes at home on Jan. 23, as the Chargers host the annual Wide Track Classic at the Biermann Athletic Center, beginning at 10 a.m.