AUSTIN, Texas -- Saturday, Yale's men's team saw three of its throwers competing down south at the University of Texas's Track and Field Invitational. This will be the host site for the NCAA National Championships in early June, and so this competition was particularly valuable as it gave the Bulldogs the chance to travel, train and compete at this unfamiliar ground. On the technical side, the throwers could also adjust to new throwing circles, ensuring that if they are back in early June they will be as prepared as possible.
 
Yale's throwers showed that they were equally adept in the Texas heat as in New Haven's typical fare. Each of the Bulldogs came away with strong marks and great promise coming into the business end of the season. Matt Appel led the three Yale athletes in the discus throw, finishing second place against a high national-caliber field. Appel's best mark of the day amounted to 57.77m, only marginally off his new school record mark set last weekend. Appel looks better than ever, and the team will be grateful for his form as he will be expected to battle for several points at the Heps competition next weekend. Nolan Recker placed seventh in the competition, finishing with a throw of 49.42m, just a couple of meters behind his PR also. Chris Ward was less than a meter off his personal record as well. He placed 11th in the competition. Notably, Ward's best throw of the day came in his third and final attempt. With improvements in each of his three throws, it seems that the junior has much more in his locker. Recker and Ward will both be confident in their capacity for surpassing the 50m barrier next weekend. 
 
Chris Ward made his trip worth the while, also showing his quality in the shot put where he finished sixth overall, in a distance of 16.74m. This is an impressive mark, but particularly as Ward unluckily threw four fouls from his six attempts, likely not showing his full capabilities on the day. Ward has been on a tear this season in the shot put, improving his 2022 best (15.61m) by almost a full two meters (now 17.49m); in the process he has emerged as a primary competitor within the Ivy League and there is no reason why he cannot go even better at Yale's upcoming conference championships.
 
Full results for the Texas Invitational can be found here.
 
Also, several of the Yale men's team will be back in action Sunday at home at the Yale Springtime Invitational. Follow along with the meet with live results here.