Tigers Solid Again At Otterbein Indoor

Senior Darcy Dubuc was one of several first-place finishers for the Tiger women with a top spot in the 1000-meter run. File Photo/Erin Pence

WESTERVILLE, Ohio — The Tiger track & field teams continued their indoor seasons this weekend at Otterbein, earning second place on the women's side and a fourth-place finish for the men among a variety of individual and team accomplishments.

For the women, it represented their second runner-up finish in as many meets, their best start to the indoor season since 1997, when the Tigers won two of their first four meets (two were non-scoring).

Powering the women to their results were three first-place finishes, including an impressive outing from freshman Shelby Kaho (Sugar Grove, Ohio/Berne Union). Kaho finished second in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries with a time of 9.47, but shaved .09 seconds off her time in the finals to overcome Abbey Grey of Otterbein and take first. Kaho also added a second-place finish in the 60-meter dash with a time of 8.14 seconds.

Senior Darcy Dubuc (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) also placed in two events, including first in the 1000-meter run on a time of 3:10.82 and second in the mile run with a mark of 5:26.06. Sophomore Angela Roll (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) won the high jump at 1.57 meters.

Senior Anna Henry (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) was the highest finisher among affiliated runners in the 5000-meter run on a time of 18:46, followed by sophomore Molly King (Springfield, Ohio/Northeastern) at 18:55, representing personal bests for both runners.

Wrapping up the team's first-place finishes was the 4x400 relay crew of Dubuc, senior Samantha Iden (Pickerington, Ohio/North), senior Catherine Kuerbitz (Cleveland, Ohio/Regina) and sophomore Becca Agnor (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Watkins Memorial). Also notable was a personal record of 8.83 meters in the shot put for freshman Kayla Murphy (Dayton, Ohio/Massillon Tuslaw).

Trevor Grandy

For the men, sophomore Victor Banjo (Sugarland, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) found success early with a first-place finish in the 60-meter dash on a time of 6.98 seconds in the first event of the meet. He immediately followed that with a second-place finish in the 200-meter dash on a time of 23.08. His time in the 60-meter dash ranks him among the top 16 Division III runners in the nation.

Junior Trevor Grandy (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) also won a race, finishing the 5000-meter run in 15:58.23. Distance was a strength, with senior Jarrett Cowgill (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) taking second in the mile run on a time of 4:30.51.

The Tiger men also got a pair of third-place finishes, including freshman Charles Watson (Star, Idaho/Eagle) in the 500-meter dash and senior Justen Cox (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) in the pole vault. Sophomore Theron Swanson (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn) achieved a personal best in the pole vault with a mark of 11-6 (3.50m).

The Tigers are in action next weekend at the Denison Lid-Lifter at Mitchell Recreation and Athletics Center in Granville, Ohio.

John Strawn '07