ALLENDALE, Mich. – Cal Poly Humboldt men's track and field had a strong showing at the GVSU Big Meet on Saturday, highlighted by freshman Michael Payan, who cleared 4.95 meters (16'2.75") to claim first place in the pole vault and hit an NCAA Division II national provisional mark. Payan's performance currently ranks him No. 20 in the nation.
Payan entered the competition strategically, passing on the lower heights before successfully clearing 4.65 meters on his second attempt and 4.80 meters on his first. He secured his victory with a clearance at 4.95 meters on his second attempt before narrowly missing 5.05 meters.
Sprint & Mid-Distance Highlights
In the 60-meter dash, sophomores Ryan Castro and Paul Domingue both clocked in at 7.02 seconds, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively. Joey Bowser (7.32) and Connor Pratt (7.38) also represented Humboldt in the event.
Castro and Bowser continued their strong performances in the 200 meters, finishing 19th (22.86) and 24th (22.89), respectively.
In the mile, senior Carson Smith secured a top-10 finish, crossing the line at 4:19.53.
Field Event Standouts
Beyond Payan's pole vault victory, Humboldt had several notable finishes in the field events:
- Men's Shot Put: Joseph Gonzalez placed sixth with a mark of 15.38m (50'5.5"), while Derek Ray finished ninth at 15.21m (49'11").
- Men's Long Jump: Joey Bowser leaped 6.29m (20'7.75") to finish 12th, while Bryce Pearson recorded a best mark of 5.96m (19'6.75").
Distance Medley Relay
The Distance Medley Relay team, consisting of Julian Jensen, Bryce Pearson, Dominic Raffetto, and Sebastian Vaisset-Fauvel, placed 18th with a time of 10:19.26.
Up Next
Cal Poly Humboldt will turn to outdoor season as they host the infamous Green and Gold Open in Arcata next Saturday, February 22 at the Redwood Bowl for Alumni Weekend. The only two this indoor season who hit national provisional marks, Bryce Pearson (Heptathlon, 4797) and Michael Payan (Pole Vault, 4.95m), will wait and see if they qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships in Indianapolis from March 13-15.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt Track & Field, please visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app, and follow us on all social media platforms.
