INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's distance runners took center stage on Friday night (Jan. 26) as the Jaguars put up strong efforts on night one of their own invitational inside Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion. Andrew Whitinger headlined the group, winning the 5K event in a time of 14:14.71 to break the program's previous school record by two seconds. Former record holder Eric Hoffman was among the team's top cheerleaders on the home stretch, roaring for Whitinger over the final 100 meters. 

Whitinger, aided by the pacing of Rob Mullett for a second consecutive week, led four IUPUI finishers to the line in collecting his second win in as many weeks. 

Eric Petersen, who's been slowed by injury to start the season, finished second at 14:33.20 and Mitchell Gits was third at 14:35.15. Nick Perkins rounded out the quartet at 14:45.40 and Jack Acton was sixth at 15:05.17. Mitchell Rans spun a time of 15:09.14 to take seventh. 

Later in the evening, Jaylon Cooper tied IUPUI's school record in the 200m event with a personal best time of 23.50. 

The Jaguars put up a youth movement in the mile as three freshmen - Noah Price, Luke Shappell and Jay Pillai - finished second, third and fourth in their section. Price overtook Shappell late and closed at 4:18.58 while Shappell finished at 4:19.29. Pillai ended at 4:25.71 and fellow freshman Nolan King spun a personal best time of 4:29.04. Another freshman, Nicholas Probst, also earned a personal best time at 4:41.07. 

The two-day meet will continue on Saturday with events beginning at 1:00 p.m. inside Fall Creek Pavilion.