Bird and Dunnett Break School Records in Opening Weekend

Thursday, March 26

Indianapolis, Ind.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Marian Knight Open

Josiah Bird

Photo by: Robert Hayes

Bird and Dunnett Break School Records in Opening Weekend

3/27/2026 11:25:00 PM | Men's Track and Field

INDIANAPOLIS and ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Purdue Fort Wayne men's track and field program completed their first two meets of the outdoor season, competing at the Marian Knight Invite (March 26-27) and WashU Distance Carnival (March 27).

The Mastodon throwers began the season at the Marian Knight Open on Thurday (March 26), competing in the discus throw and hammer throw. Josiah Bird took advantage of the day headstart and broke the first school record of the outdoor season with a discus throw of 51.08 meters, the best mark in the Horizon League. Denton Jacobs (40.78m) and Owen Kaufman (37.16m) threw in the event, taking second and third in league rankings.

Bird also threw the HL's second best hammer throw mark at Marian, tossing a personal record 49.95 meters. Jacobs (42.50m) and Tyler Bowman (41.60m) also set personal records in the event. Freshman Max Parciak threw his first collegiate hammer throw mark at the meet, throwing for 37.35 meters.

Three Purdue Fort Wayne distance runners traveled to the WashU Distance Carnival, with Sam Dunnett highlighting the meet. After breaking school records on four different occasions in the indoor season, the Australia native broke the 5000 meters record in his first opportunity. The fifth year's time of 14:10.13 is the fastest in the Horizon League. Colten Gasson also competed in the event, running a personal record 15:03.81 for the second best HL time. Boden Genovese took on the 1500 meters at the meet, finishing in a league-best 3:55.40.

The Mastodon throwers returned on day two of the Marian Knight Open (March 27) for the shot put. Bird put his name as a Horizon League best in a second event, throwing for 14.93 meters. Bowman took the HL's second-best with 13.59 meters and Parciak sits in third with 13.43 meters.

Andrew Roman cleared the league's highest pole vault mark, leading the 'Dons with a height of 4.65 meters in Indianapolis. Sawyer Ruminer and Dalyn Givens both cleared 4.50 meters, tying for the third best Horizon League mark.

Noah Morris ran the HL's fastest 100 meter dash time at Marian, finishing in 10.67. Cainen Northington completed his first collegiate finish of the event with a 11.50.

Northington also returned to the track to run the league's best 200 meter dash (23.41).

Prior to competing in the pole vault, Ruminer completed his first collegiate long jump. The 6.14 meter leap sits second-furthest in the Horizon League.

Brevin Miller threw the HL's second best javelin throw mark with a 51.40 meters at the Marian Knight Invite.

Four Purdue Fort Wayne runners completed their first collegiate 1500 meters in Indianapolis: Jack Strong (4:01.80), Braydn Livingston (4:10.94), Kale Seymour (4:11.69) and Daniel Mullett (4:16.50). Joshua Roper ran a personal record 4:05.49 in the event.

The Mastodons are back in action on Friday (April 3) at Michigan State's Spartan Invitational.

~ Feel the Rumble ~