Track & Field Dominates the Muskie Invitational

NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Wittenberg Track & Field travelled back to Muskingum University for the second time this season on Saturday, this time to compete in the Muskie Invitational. The Tigers scratched their name into the books as they took top eight finishes in about every single event competed in, as well as by setting meet record times. The men's team showed their strength, pulling out 164.5 points in their first place victory. Meanwhile the women's team placed third with 105 points and within a short reach of second.

MEN'S TOP 3'S

• Three Tigers transitioned from preliminaries to finals in the 100 meter dash. Tyler Branton and Brandon Johnson led the way for the men in first and third. While Johnson came in at 11.61 seconds, Branton set a meet record, coming in at 11.42 seconds.
• Branton and Johnson led two other Tigers into the top five of the 200 meter dash. In second place, Branton sprinted his way around the track for a time of 23.03 seconds, meanwhile, Johnson's third place was marked with a time of 23.29 seconds.
• Cody Shutt and Ryan Hale outsmarted the competition in a race where six Tigers placed into the top seven. Shutt wrapped up in 50.16 seconds for first place and a meet record time in the 400 meter dash, while Hale slipped his way into a third place finish in 51.16 seconds.
• Jon Osman set the tone for the 5,000 meter run, coming in first with a time of 16:24.86.
• Travelling on his own to Ohio Wesleyan to compete against conference teams this week, sophomore Charles Rodeheffer dominated the 5,000 meters there with a 15:41.37 first place run.
• Four Tigers made it into the finals heat of the 110 high hurdles, however it was Tyler Gittins who set a meet record with his 15.33 seconds and first pace finish.
• Sutton Jacobs ran strong in his first 3,000 steeplechase run of the year, placing second after an 11:50.77 run.
• The 4x400 meter relay team of Kenny Mayes, Jalen Fultz, Kyle Farnbauch, and Aaron Rutherford excelled in their race, coming in first with a time of 3:24.52 to wrap up the day's running events.
• Vaulting 3.96 meters, Jardyan Mitchem placed third in the pole vault for the Tigers.
• Rutherford also contributed another first place victory for Wittenberg, throwing javelin for 43.60 meters

WOMEN'S TOP 3'S

• After pulling in three sprinters through to the finals, Tyra Barnes dominated the 100 meter dash. The freshman placed first, finishing in 12.76 seconds while setting a new meet record.
• Alaina Longshore, first, and Tiarra Avant, third, clocked in at 26.69 and 27.47 for the 200 meter dash. Longshore's time also setting a meet record.
• In the 800 meter run, Alexis Grey topped the charts for the Tigers, coming in first at 2:19.47, claiming herself a first place victory and a meet record time.
• Hannah Meier claimed herself a third place honor with a time of 20:08.73 in the 5,000 meter run.
• Although leading the preliminaries, Olivia Stevens claimed second in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 16.38 seconds.
• Stevens also finished third in the 400 meter hurdles, coming in at 1:10.67.
• Lorin Conti made her first career appearance in the 3,000 meter steeple chase, dominating her field with a time of 12:50.40 for second place.
• Wrapping up the running events, the 4x400 team of freshmen McCohn, Staci Harmon, Madison Nadler and Katie Hodson came in at 4:42.26 for a third place finish.
• Reaching a height of 3.20 meters, Gabrielle Draginoff pole vaulted her way into second place.
• Anissa Dann threw for 41.10 meters in the hammer throw for third place.

QUOTE

Coach Paris Hilliard: "It was a solid team effort today. I am proud of the way we competed today. I really like the team chemistry we are continuing to build."

UP NEXT

The Tigers aren't slowing down yet, keeping the momentum high as they move closer to taking on the All-Ohio Invitational at Ohio Wesleyan on April 15.

Written by Sutton Jacobs, '19