The Youngstown State men's track and field team finished off a triple crown season by winning its second consecutive Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championship as the event concluded on Sunday in sunny Youngstown.
It was YSU's third outdoor title in four years and second straight. In 2016-17, the Guins claimed the Cross Country title, the Indoor Track and Field Championship and the Outdoor Track and Field title.
The Penguins finished with 216 points to fight off a late charge from Oakland which had 203. Milwaukee was third with 180 points.
Chad Zallow picked up a pair of event wins while freshman Collin Harden had a victory for the Penguins on Sunday to lead the effort. It was the first Horizon League outdoor crowns for both individuals.
Zallow won the 110m hurdles by a whisker over Milwaukee's Nate Pozolinski. Zallow and Pozolinski ran identical times of 13.79 seconds. However, Zallow's time was officially clocked at 13.782 seconds to Pozolinski's 13.788 seconds. He was the first Penguin to win the race since 2011.
Zallow and his brother, Carl, went first and second in the 100m. Chad Zallow won with a time of 10.59 seconds while Carl was right behind at 10.63 seconds.
Harden ran a time of 52.03 seconds to win the 400m hurdles but just over two seconds. It was the first Horizon League title of his career. He becomes just the second YSU runner to win the 400m hurdles. The lone previous winner is Martin Soloman back in 2011.
In the 200m dash, the Penguins had second and third-place finishes. Carl Zallow finished second at 21.75 seconds while freshman Brendon Lucas was third running a time of 21.88 seconds. Lucas also placed fourth in the 400m dash with a time of 49.17 seconds.
In the 5,000m run, the Penguins placed third and fourth. Finishing third was Ryan Roush with a time of 14.49.20 while Ryan Sullivan came in fourth running a 14:51.63.
In the high jump, Bradley Jones was second to Milwaukee's Jason Hanson. Jones cleared the bar at 2.06m while Hanson won clearing a height of 2.09m. In the hammer throw, Matt Monroe placed third with a toss of 52.47m and was just 10 inches out of the top spot and seven from second in a close contest.
Also, Caleb Lloyd was fifth in both the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles.
Select members of the team will compete at the BYU Last Chance Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Provo, Utah.
YSU's Men's Specialty Awards:
Freshman of the Year – Running: Collin Harden
Championship Outstanding Performer – Running: Chad Zallow
Championship Outstanding Performer – Field: Ryan Booth
Alfreeda Goff Athlete of the Year – Chad Zallow
Coach of the Year: Brian Gorby
