Hornets Finish Second At Chuck Oyler Invite

Brandon Schnitker paces the competition during the 800M Run during the Chuck Oyler Invite on May 2.
The Nashville Hornets boys varsity track team picked up two second place finishes this past week as they competed at the Chuck Oyler Invitational and the DuQuoin Invitational. The Hornets Freshman/Sophomore team finished third the Pinckneyville Fresh/Soph Invitational on May 7. The Hornets have two meets left in the regular season as they compete at the SIRR Conference Meet Thursday in Sparta and the Jared Morris Invitational on May 14 at home. The Hornets will compete at Sectionals on May 18 in Chester.
The Hornets finished just behind Herrin at the Chuck Oyler Invitational on May 2. Herrin finished with 144.33 points to take the title. Nashville finished with 106 points. Harrisburg finished in third with 95.08 points. Murphysboro and DuQuoin rounded out the top five.
Brandon Schnitker finished first in four different events at the meet. Schnitker won the 800 with a time of 2:02.65. Schnitker then won the 1600 with a time of 4:52.02.
Schnitker was also a part of two relay teams. The 4X800M Relay team of Schnitker, Gavin Love, Caleb Zgonina, and Tabor Kozuszek finished with a time of 8:39.44 almost twenty seconds ahead of second place Herrin. The 4X400M Relay team of Schnitker, Daymeon Baugh, Zgonina, and Kozuszek won the final race of the night with a  time of 3:31.43.
Gavyn Lietz picked up a first place finish in the Pole Vault as he cleared 12’.
Second place finishes for Nashville was Lietz in the Long Jump, and Baugh in the Triple Jump. Lietz would finish third in the 110M High Hurdles and in the Triple Jump.
The Hornets again finished in the Runner-Up position at the DuQuoin Classic on May 4. Nashville finished with 99 points. Madison took first place with 138.5 points. Pinckneyville finished third, followed by DuQuoin in fourth, and McLeansboro (Hamilton County) in fifth. Overall 18 teams competed.
Nashville finished in first in five different events at the meet. Schnitker won the 800 with a time of 1:59.34. Schnitker was also part of two relay teams that crossed the line in first place. Schnitker joined Landon Davis, Zgonina, and Kozuszek to win the 4X800M Relay with a time of 8:37.93. Schnitker along with Baugh, Kozuszek, and Love won the 4X400M Relay with a time of 3:32.02.
Lietz won the Pole Vault as he cleared 10’6”
Nashville did not have any second place finishes, but had one third place finish. Graham Speedie finished third in the pole vault.
The Hornets final meet of the week was the Pinckneyville Freshman/Sophomore Invite on May 7. Nashville finished in third place with 84 points. DuQuoin won with 109 points. Pinckneyville finished second with 106 points.
Love won both the 800 and the 1600 at the event. Love ran the 1600 in 5:10.26, which was .2 seconds ahead of second place. Love finished a second ahead of second place in the 800M run with a time of 2:11.06.
Jackson Aulds won the 300M Hurdles as well as the 110M High Hurdles at the event. Aulds ran the 110M High Hurdles in 16.09 seconds. Aulds crossed the line in a photo finish in the 300M Hurdles with a time of 43.56. Second place finished with a time of 43.59.
Love and Aulds were also a part of the 4X400M Relay team along with Theron Hausner,, and Jace Matecki that won with a time of  3:44.73.
Love joined Mateck, Tyson Huge, and Caleb Klein to win the 4X800M Relay with a time of 9:19.
Aulds finished third in the Long Jump. Brian Meyer finished third in the 400, and Speedie finished third in the Pole Vault.