Track Wraps Up Findlay Classic with Several Top Showings

FINDLAY, Ohio – Several top finishes in the distance events and relays helped lead the Ohio Dominican men's and women's track and field teams at the two-day, un-scored Findlay Classic this weekend.

On the women's side, senior Meghan Willeke (Lexington, Ohio) led the Panthers with a third-place effort in the 5000 meter run, crossing the line in 19:23.68. Teammate Tara Walker (Lewis Center, Ohio) was close behind with her mark of 19:29.78, which was good for fourth place.

Also registering a top-10 finish for the women was freshman Rachel Collins (Dayton, Ohio), who came in ninth in the 800 meter run with her time of 2:38.56.

On the men's side, freshman Ashton Hall (Huber Heights, Ohio) was the top placer as he finished second in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:59.48, just three-tenths of a second out of the top spot. He was followed by classmate Dominick Smith (Dayton, Ohio), who took sixth in 2:01.30.

The men's relay teams also had a pair of fourth place finishes to help guide ODU. The 4x400 team of freshman Kenny Brown (Westerville, Ohio), Smith, Jason Williams (Powell, Ohio) and Hall finished with a mark of 3:29.62. Smith, Williams and Hall were joined by Mike Barber (New Franklin, Ohio) on the 4x800 squad that crossed the line in 8:12.95.

Freshman Tyler Fifer (Westerville, Ohio) continued his strong indoor season with a trio of top-eight performances in the field events. He finished in third in the triple jump with a leap of 44-02.75, tied for fourth in the high jump (6-04.00) and eighth in the long jump (20-09.25).

ODU's sprinters also enjoyed success, headlined by a fifth-place effort from freshman Abraham Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio) in the 60 meter dash (7.08). He improved on his preliminary time of 7.14 in that event, then went on to record a seventh place finish in the 200 (22.86).

Freshman Aaron Johnson (Troy, Ohio) took seventh in the 60 meter hurdles with his time of 8.61, while freshman Trey Hammons-Scott (Huber Heights, Ohio) tied for ninth (8.96). Brown took ninth in the 400 with his mark of 51.81, and freshman Darrell Harley (Columbus, Ohio) came in 10th in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.14.

Several Panthers also competed at the Denison Lid-Lifter over the weekend. On the women's side, freshman Charde Gaiter (Westerville, Ohio) took second in the shot put with a toss of 31-06.50. For the men, freshman Jordan Singleton (Alpharetta, Ga.) placed fifth in the weight throw with his mark of 41-08.75.

The Panthers return to action at the Ohio State Tune-Up on Feb. 17.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu