Mary Blonder
It was another strong week for the Wittenberg track and field teams, which competed at an open competition with no team scores at the University of Findlay.
Providing the biggest highlight for either team was sophomore Kristen Mumper (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian), who was the NCAC Athleteof the Week the previous week and then outdid herself. While she wasn'tselected Athlete of the Week again, Mumper's first-place triple jump of34-feet, 8.25-inches surpassed the school record she set just last weekat Ohio Northern. Mumper capped another outstanding effort with a 5th-placefinish in the long jump.
Other top performances on the women's side included sophomore KellyZilli (Kettering, Ohio/Alter) and her sixth-place finish in the mile,freshman Marissa Davoll (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) and her fifth-place finish in the 600-meter run, and the fourth-place finish turned in by the 1600-meter relay foursome of Davoll, freshman Tina Valerius (Cincinnati,Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame), sophomore Mary Blonder (Lake Forest, Ill./LakeForest) and Zilli.
Derek Thompson
On the men's side, freshman Joe Rumschlag (Maumee, Ohio/Toledo Christian School) made an impression by competing in the triple jump for thefirst time and finishing sixth. Also placing for Wittenberg were sophomoreJoel Drake (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee), who was 10th in the shotput and 11h in the 35# weight, and the 1600 relay quartet of sophomoreDerek Thompson (South Charleston, Ohio/Greenon), sophomore MattFrost (South Vienna, Ohio/Southeastern), Mike Torsell (Springfield,Ohio/Catholic Central), freshman Chad Kresser (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay),which was ninth.
Finally, heading into the home stretch of the 2002 indoor track andfield season, Wittenberg's teams have made an impression nationally. In a poll that tabulates points based on previous performances and projectsteams based on how they would finish in dual meets, Wittenberg's men areranked 18th and the women 15th. In the Great Lakes Region, the men areranked fourth and the women are third.
Next: 2/16 @ Scarlet & Grey Invitational