OAC Indoor Track and Field Championships-February 24-25 at Otterbein University
OAC Indoor Track and Field Championships-February 24-25 at Otterbein University
Otterbein Set to Host the 2012 OAC Indoor Track and Field Championships
Friday-Saturday, February 24-25
[CHAMPIONSHIP SITE]
Austintown, OH-Otterbein will host the 2012 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday-Saturday, February 24-25. Friday's competition will start at noon and Saturday's will begin at 10 a.m. All ten OAC schools will compete for the league title. The top three relay teams and individuals earn All-OAC honors for the 2012 season.
The Ohio Northern men and Baldwin-Wallace women captured the championship titles a year ago. The ONU men finished the meet with 160 points, followed by Mount Union with 126 points. Otterbein placed third with 84 points, followed by Baldwin-Wallace with 81 points, Wilmington and Marietta tied with 64 points, Muskingum with 50 points, John Carroll with 46, Heidelberg 42 points, and Capital with 24.50.
The Polar Bears, who were selected as favorites for the indoor season during preseason voting by the OAC coaches and will look to defend their title under the guidance of third year head coach, Jason Maus. Maus and his staff garnered the 2011 OAC Coaching Staff of the Year honor.
Returning for ONU is senior Dan Smith (Avon), who won the 1,000â€meter run (2:31.73), won and set a new school record in the 3,000â€meter run (8:38.92), and place second in the oneâ€mile run (4:17.21). Smith was named the OAC Most Outstanding distance athlete for his efforts. Also earning individual titles were seniors Jacob Schwab (Willard/Monroeville) and Cory Bailey (Loveland). Schwab won the 400â€meter dash (49.37), while Bailey took home the 800â€meter run (1:59.41) title.
On the women's side, Baldwin-Wallace secured the title with 168.50 points, followed by Otterbein with 118.50. Mount Union place third with 104.50 points , followed by Marietta with 89.50, Capital with 77 points, Ohio Northern with 68 points, Heidelberg with 56 points, Wilmington with 30 points, John Carroll with 26 points and Muskingum with three points.
The Purple Raiders were chosen as preseason favorites and are led by second year head coach Kevin Lucas. This season, Mount Union will return 12 conference scorers, including Allâ€OAC performers, senior Kelsey Shonk (Columbus/Bishop Hartley) and junior Julianne Liberati (Pittsburgh, Pa./Trinity Christian). Shonk placed second in the shot put (39â€1.25) and Liberati was third in the triple jump (33â€10.25)
Baldwin-Wallace will look to preserve their title with the help of junior Cristina Perrina (Middleburgh Hts./Midpark), the pole vault champion (53'11.75).
Marietta returns the Most Outstanding Field Athlete, senior Ashley Bault (Atwater/Waterloo). Bault won both the high jump (5'2.50") and triple jump (34'9.50).