2008 NCAC Relays

Edited: Feb. 3, 2008

OHIO WESLEYAN MEN & WOMEN CLAIM NORTH COAST RELAYS TITLES

GRANVILLE, Ohio -- Ohio Wesleyan's men and women claimed team championships at the 24th North Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Relays, held Feb. 2 at Denison's Mitchell Recreation and Athletic Center. The Bishop women won for the 11th time in 24 years, while the Bishop men claimed the Relays title for the 10th time in 24 years.

In the men's relays, Ohio Wesleyan totaled 88.5 points to out-distance runner up Wabash (85), and third-place Denison (49). Wooster and Allegheny finished tied for fourth with 46 points each.

Team scores are compiled using the results of five running relays and the combined time/length of the top two performances in each of the seven remaining events.

The Battling Bishops won five of 12 events to total 88.5 points. Allegheny claimed three relay wins while Wabash, which shared the pole vault title with the Gators, claimed two relay victories. Denison, Earlham and Wooster each had one relay win to their credit.

Juniors Ryan Ellis (Columbus, OH/Dublin Scioto) and Nathan Osborn (Edgerton, OH/Edgerton) helped two relay teams set meet records, leading Ohio Wesleyan to the title. It was the second victory in the event for the Battling Bishops in the past three years. Ellis and Osborn were part of the victorious 1600-meter relay that set a school and meet record that had stood since 1999 with a 3:26.28. The duo was part of the top 800-meter relay that set a meet record with a time of 1:31.46.

In the women's relays, the Bishops won six of 12 relays to total 97 points, while Wittenberg and Oberlin took two relay victories each. Allegheny and Earlham each had one relay victory apiece and Wooster shared the top honors in the high jump relay with the Bishops.

Senior Ashley Shaffer (Lancaster, OH/Lancaster) was part of four relays as she and freshman Lainey Kekic (Canfield, OH/Western Reserve) combined to win the high jump for Ohio Wesleyan. Each competitor cleared 4 feet, 11 inches. The duo was also part of the top 1600 sprint medley relay that crossed first in 4:32.57. Shaffer combined with junior Jessica Miller (Columbia Station, OH/Columbia) to win the long (combined 31 feet, 3.75 inches) and triple jump (combined 66 feet, 4 inches) relays. OWU also won the 1600-meter relay (4:11.97) and distance medley relay (12:43.26).

2008 Men's Indoor Track & Field Relays Team, Points 1. Ohio Wesleyan University, 88.5 2. Wabash College, 85.0 3. Denison University, 49.0 4. College of Wooster, 46.0 5. Allegheny College, 46.0 6. Oberlin College, 43.0 7. Kenyon College, 31.0 8. Wittenberg University 29.0 9. Earlham College, 25.5

2008 Men's Indoor Track & Field Relays Team, Points 1. Ohio Wesleyan University, 88.5 2. Wabash College, 85.0 3. Denison University, 49.0 4. College of Wooster, 46.0 5. Allegheny College, 46.0 6. Oberlin College, 43.0 7. Kenyon College, 31.0 8. Wittenberg University, 29.0 9. Earlham College, 25.5

Men's notes:
WABASH sophomore Emmanuel Aouad (Terre Haute, IN/North) won the individual portions of the 55-meter hurdles (7.83 seconds) and long jump (6.43 meters/21 feet, 1.25 inches). He was also part of the second-place 800-meter and 1600-meter relays. The Little Giants won the sprint medley relay in 3:36.60 and the pole vault relay. In the pole vault, freshman Robert Trahin (Leo, IN/Bishop Dwenger) cleared 4.10 meters/13 feet, 5.25 inches and Nelson Barre (Highland Ranch, CO/JK Mullen) topped 3.80 meters/12 feet, 5.50 inches to win the relay with a combined total of 7.90 meters/25 feet, 10.75 inches ... The DENISON 4x800 relay won with a time of 8:05.84 to lead the Big Red to a third-place team finish at the relays. Senior Joel Bendtsen (Chillicothe, OH/Chillicothe) posted the top 5,000 meters time (15:19.82) and combined with senior Craig Baker (Canton, OH/Glen Oak) who finished in 16:08.00, to finish second in the relay ... Junior high jumper Jon Mathis (Tallmadge, OH/Tallmadge) posted WOOSTER'S top individual performance at the meet. He cleared 1.85 meters/6 feet, 0.75 inches and combined with junior Averell Gtton (McLean, VA/Langley), who cleared 1.75 meters/5 feet, 8.75 inches to win the high jump relay ... Junior Joe McMahon (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) had the top individual performance in the triple jump (13.68 meters/44 feet, 10.75 inches) to lead ALLEGHENY to a tie for fourth place. McMahon combined with freshman Darryl Overton (Buffalo, NY/St. Francis) to win the triple jump relay. Overton leapt 12.59 meters/41 feet, 3.75 inches ... Junior Conor Doss (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) ran the anchor leg of the OBERLIN distance medley relay that set a school record (10:46.10) and finished fifth. Doss also competed in the 5,000 meters and finished fourth individually (15:48.17) ... Sophomore Milen Kozarov (Plovdiv, Bulgaria/Plovdiv Language) posted KENYON'S best individual performance of the day. Kozarov took second in the high jump with a leap of 1.80 meters/5 feet, 10.75 inches. Sophomore Matt Riley (Lawrence, KS/Lawrence) was third individually in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:28.05 ... WITTENBERG got a third-place individual finish from Erik Larkin (Cincinnati, OH/Country Day) in the triple jump. His mark was 12.70 meters/41 feet, 8 inches ... EARLHAM freshman Chad Wertman (Holland, IN/Southridge) and sophomore Chris Shaw (Anderson, IN/Pendleton Hts.) combined to win the shot put relay. Wertman had a toss of 13.63 meters/44 feet, 8.75 inches, while Shaw recorded a throw of 13.43 meters/44 feet, 0.75 inches ... Freshman Steven Hammond (Huber Hts., OH/Kettering Fairmont) finished eighth in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.59 seconds as HIRAM'S top individual.

Women's notes:
OBERLIN finished second at the NCAC Relays behind the efforts of freshman Joanna Johnson (Chico, CA/Chico), who finished the 5,000 meters in 18:31.67 to cross the line first. Sophomore Madeline Schultz (Concord, MA/Concord Carlisle) ran the anchor leg off the second-place 4x200 meter relay, was the third leg on the second-place 4x400 relay and tied for second individually in the high jump when she cleared 4 feet, 11 inches. Senior Katy Cook (Simsbury, CT/Simsbury) finished third individually in the shot put with a toss of 34 feet, 5.5 inches ... WOOSTER junior Kayla Miller (Mercer, PA/Mercer Area) was the top individual in two events. She cleared 5 feet, 1 inch in the high jump and leapt 33 feet, 10 inches in the triple jump ... Senior Sara Bohall (Westport, IN/Columbus East) combined with freshman Rachel Dana (Columbus, IN/North) to lead EARLHAM to a win in the 55-meter hurdles relay. Bohall posted the top individual time of 8.9 seconds, while Dana crossed in 9.83 seconds. Senior Emma Abernathy (Atlanta, GA/Lakeside) set a school record in the pole vault when she cleared 9 feet 0.25 inches. She combined with junior Allison Blaetz's (Palantine, IL/William Fremd) effort of 8 feet, 0.50 inches to tie for second in the relay event ... Field event performances carried DENISON at the relay meet. Sophomore Emily Hammeren (Olmsted Falls, OH/Olmsted Falls) cleared 3.05 meters/10 feet even to finish second individually in the pole vault. She also teamed with Shavely Peralta (Methuen, MA/Central Catholic) in the triple jump to finish third in the relay event. Hammeren leapt 8.71 meters/28 feet, 7 inches while Peralta's best effort was 9.08 meters/29 feet, 9.5 inches ... WITTENBERG senior Allison Walker (Columbus, OH/Academy) led the Tigers in the shot put when she recorded the top individual distance of 11.73 meters/38 feet 6 inches. Walker combined with Keelee Ridder (South Vienna, OH/Northeastern) to win the shot put relay. Ridder's top effort was 9.12 meters/29 feet, 1.25 inches. The Tigers also won the 4x200 meter relay in 1:51.37 .... KENYON finished seventh at the Relays, its best finish since 2004. Freshman Shaakira Raheem (Silver Springs, MD/Einstein) was second in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.92 seconds as the Ladies finished fourth in the relay. She also ran the anchor leg on the fourth-place 4x400 meter relay that finished in 4:38.84 ... Senior Sarah Sammel (Pittsburgh, PA/Bethel Park) posted ALLEGHENY'S best performance. She had the top height in the pole vault when she cleared 10 feet, 6 inches. Sammel and Jessica Pennisi (Milltown, NJ/East Brunswick), who cleared 7 feet, 6.5 inches, combined to win the pole vault relay. Rachael Hutchinson (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) and Claire LeMasters (Shady Side, OH/St. John Central) combined to finished third in the 5000 meters relay event. Hutchison crossed in 19:08.10 while LeMasters finished in 19:48.37 ... Senior Lynne Hutchison (Solon, OH/Solon) finished third individually to lead HIRAM. Hutchison was third in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 9.89 seconds. Sophomore Tiffani Martin (Loudonville, OH/Loudonville) cleared 7 feet, 5 inches in the pole vault to finish in a tie for eighth, individually.