SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers had perhaps their best showing of the 2006 season to date, finishing eighth in both the men's and women's competitions at the Wilmington Fall Classic. The men's and women's fields both numbered 16 teams, including several NAIA and NCAA scholarship programs.
The meet was the final tune-up for the biggest event of the season, the 2006 North Coast Athletic Conference championship, hosted by Earlham College on Saturday, Oct. 28. Two weeks after that, the Tigers will compete in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional championship meet, hosted this year by Hanover College. Should any Wittenberg runner qualify for the national championship meet, it will take place Nov. 18 at Voice of America Park in Mason, Ohio. Wilmington is the host school.
The Tigers' top finisher on the day was sophomore Gabe Savage (Lewisburg, Ohio/Tri-County North), who placed 20th with an eight-kilometer time of 27:19. Sophomore Ben McCombs (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and junior Mike Wismer (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon) finished 40th and 41st respectively to round out the Tigers' top three finishers.
On the women's side, senior Christine Maddox (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) was Wittenberg's top finisher as she covered the five-kilometer course in 21:26 to finish 23rd. She was followed closely by junior Megan Poling (Medina, Ohio/Highland) in 32nd place and sophomore Abby McCutcheon (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) in 38th.