The Roberts Wesleyan University Men's and Women's Track and Field teams went in different directions Friday as the squads opened the 2024-25 Indoor Track and Field season. A majority of the team traveled to Houghton University while a group of predominantly distance runners traveled to Grand Valley State and a select group of pole vaulters opened the season at the University of Akron in Ohio.

Freshman thrower Thomas McConnelee had a record-setting performance in the weight throw and a first-place finish in the shot put to lead a strong effort at the Houghton meet.

The freshman won the weight throw with a heave of 54' 1" (16.48 meters) to break the school record buy more than three feet, His record-breaking throw came on his final attempt of the day. He had broken the record on his second attempt with a 50' 10" toss and then bettered his score with his final toss.

He added a first-place finish in the shot put with a winning throw of 15.30 meters (50' 2 ½") on his final attempt. It is just the second 50-foot throw in school history.

Freshman Madelyn Rutledge led the Roberts Wesleyan women's team with a pair of high finishes in the long jump and triple jump. Rutledge won the Triple Jump with a final distance of 10.74 meters (35' 3") and was second in the Long Jump with a leap of 5.20 meters (17' ¾").

The freshmen were not the only high scoring Redhawks on the day.

Sophomore Jack Sauder won the pole vault by clearing the 15' 1" bar as four Redhawks placed in the top-10 in the event. Sophomore Cyrus Comfort and freshman Chase McFadden tied for sixth place and freshman Therron Percival was 9th as all three cleared the 4.10-meter (13' 5 ¼") bar.

Freshman Jaden Simmons won the long jump in his first career meet with a leap of 6.84 meters (22' 5 ¼").

Junior Trey Williams was third in the 60-meters and 10th in the 200 while Simmons was 7th in the 200 with a time of 23.39.

Freshman Owen Callahan was third in the shot put (13.05 meters) and 8th in the weight throw.

For the women, freshman Alanna Daniel took third in the 60-meters with a finals time of 8.11 seconds and was 8th in the 200 with a time of 28.88. Fellow freshman Molly Winger was 3rd in the pole vault with a final height of 3.05 meters (10' 0").