Tigers Get Off To A Great Start With Strong FInishes At NCAC Relays

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D. J. Hlovchiec

The Wittenberg men's and women's indoor track and field teams got off to decent starts to the 2005 season in the last two weekends, including a pair of fifth-place finishes at the Marietta Invitational on Jan. 22 and deceiving finishes of fifth and seventh at the North Coast Athletic Conference Relays on Jan. 29 at Denison.

The results at the NCAC Relays were deceptive because the teams were without several key performers due to injury or illness, and then the men's 800-meter relay was botched on the final leg with a dropped baton despite a big lead. Still, a lot of young athletes got their first taste of collegiate competition and made the most of it.

At Marietta, the men were led by senior Joe Rumschlag (Maumee, Ohio/Toledo Christian), who finished in the top three in three different events, freshman D.J. Hlovchiec (Loveland, Ohio/Cincinnati Moeller), who was second in the pole vault with a mark that just missed the school record, and freshman David Emrath (Elsmere, Ky./Lloyd), who was first in the 500 meters.

At the NCAC Relays, Rumschlag had the best finish with the best triple jump in the competition. He was also part of the second-place long jump relay with sophomore Gregg Carter (Wellsville, Ohio/Wellsville). Two other relays finished second as well: the sprint medley with Carter, Rumschlag, Emrath and freshman Sean Gouch (Columbus, Ohio/Mifflin) and the 1600-meter relay with Rumschlag, Emrath, Gouch and junior Chad Kresser (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay).

On the women's side, freshman Nicole Bailey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) was the top finisher at the Marietta Invitational as she placed third in the 55 meters and second in the 200 meters. At the NCAC Relays, the team's top finish was produced by the members of the shot put relay as freshman Allison Walker (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus Academy) and junior Michele Gardner (Bellevue, Ohio/Norwalk St. Paul) took third place.

Next: 2/4 at Cedarville