HANOVER, Ind. – The Franklin men's track and field team opened the outdoor season on Saturday (Mar. 25) afternoon, turning in a strong showing at the Hanover Invitational.
 
The Grizzly men collected a runner-up finish, earning four event wins, nine top-three placings and 66.5 points overall for the afternoon to finish just 2.5 points out of the top spot.
 
The first event win of the day came in the 100m dash, where senior Zach Roberts paced the field with a time of 11.39 seconds. Roberts added a runner-up finish in the 200m dash later on, hitting the finish line in 23.70. Luke Paddock topped the field in the 400m dash after breaking the tape in 52.49 seconds and Nick Patton won the 110 hurdles in 18.25 seconds. Junior Noah Sigler rounded out the list of winners with a first place showing in the hammer throw (51.85m) and he added a fifth-place finish in the shot put (12.30m).
 
Both relay teams put in quality showings with the 4x400 meter relay of Paddock, Logan McIntosh, Drew McGaha and Eli Cochrane taking runner-up in 3:33.38. The 4x100m team of Roberts, Patton, Ezra Baker and Maddix Flaugh placed fourth in 44.15.
 
Baker earned a third-place finish in the 100m dash (11.44) and fourth in the long jump (5.84m). McIntosh also earned third in the 400m dash (52.53) and fourth in the high jump (1.70m). Other notable finishes included McGaha taking third in the 800m (2:00.97), Jack Sells placing fifth in the 1500m (4:20.87), Cochrane took sixth in the 1500m (4:20.91) and Elliot Davidson placed fourth in the 110 hurdles (18.58).
 
Franklin continues their outdoor season next weekend with two events on tap. Griz distance runners will head to St. Louis on Friday (Mar. 31) for the WashU Distance Carnival and will join their teammates on Saturday (Apr. 1) in Indianapolis at the Marian Invitational.