Wittenberg Track & Field Dominates Fighting Scots Invitational

Wooster, Ohio – The Wittenberg University track and field claimed two wins from the College of Wooster Fighting Scot Invitational on Saturday. The Wittenberg women would rack up 133 points with their next closest team being the women of Allegheny coming with 110 points coming in the second position. The men's side posted 145 points, edging out host Wooster who finished with 110.5. The Tigers ended the day with multiple top finishes, including three wins by junior Samantha Mitchell in the 60m dash (8.29), and the 200m dash (27.62). Mitchell was also on the 4x200 meter relay team with Tiarra Avant, Leah Hilley, and Tyra Barnes posting a first-place time of 1:49.46. Alexis Gray took the individual win in the 800m run, crossing the line in a time 2:28.90. Crossing the line close behind Gray was freshman Anna Lebold for a fourth-place finish in a time of 2:32.83. The Wittenberg women's 4x400 meter claimed first place with the combination of Barnes, Lebold, Avant, and Gray posting a final time of 4:17.33.

The Wittenberg women found success in the field events as freshman Alexis Johnson would take first in the long jump, posting a leap of 5.01m. Freshman Taylor Barnhiesl cleared a height of 1.52m to bring back a fourth-place finish in the high jump. Barnhiesl would take fourth in the long jump, clearing a distance of 4.41m. Freshman Hannah Eley finished the shot-put event in fourth-place with a toss of 9.95m. Eley would return to the ring for a third-place finish in the weight throw at a distance of 13.85.

The Wittenberg men saw success as well with multiple event wins. Junior Kenny Mayes won the 800m run in a time of 2:01.63. Wittenberg went in consecutive order in multiple events as well on the day. The Tigers took the top three spots in the 60m hurdles starting with Kyle Farnbauch (8.73), Tyler Gittins (8.73), and Marcus O'Neal (8.89). Going two-three-four in the 60m dash was Tyler Branton (7.20), Brandon Johnson (7.21) and Matt Entsminger (7.36) pushed each other across the line. Johnson (23.62) and Branton (23.63) followed up by going two-three in the 200m dash for the Tigers. Gittins posted a time of 51.89 in the 400m dash for a second-place finish. The 4x200 meter relay team of Entsminger, Branton, Ryan Hale, and O'Neal bested the Wooster squad with a time of 1:32.34. Wittenberg picked up another relay win in the 4x400 meter race with the combination of Mayes, Austyn Albanese, Hale and Gittins with a time of 3:29.54. Freshman Miles Caine took fifth place in the mile run with a time of 4:51.28. Senior Jersson Pachar placed third in the 3000-meter run crossing the line in a time of 9:30.07. Senior Charles Rodeheffer finished 16th out of 61 athletes at the "Spire Midwest" indoor meet. This meet hosted competition from all divisions of the NCAA.  His time of 15:33.10 ranks him first in the conference.

Freshman Zach Guyer jumped a distance of 5.89m, which was enough for a fourth-place finish. Tay Morton posted a mark of 12.05m in the triple jump for a fifth-place finish. Sophomore Jonathan Seay finished fourth in shot-put with a throw of 13.10m. D'Anthony Dorsey (12.93m) and Curtis Quimby (12.86m) finished back-to-back at six and seven in the shot-put event. Dorsey was the top Tiger finisher in the weight throw with a toss of 14.50m and a third-place finish. It would Quimby (12.93m) and Seay (12.81m) to finish back-to-back at five and six in the weight throw.

FROM THE TRACK: "This was a great team meet. The excitement and competitiveness that our team showed today was tremendous. This was definitely a big step in the right direction. I look forward to building off of this meet as we progress forward," said head coach Paris Hilliard.

UP NEXT: Wittenberg will travel to Ohio Northern on Saturday, February 3 for the Joe Banks Invitational.