Tigers Have Solid Performance At Anderson Indoor Invitational


Kristen Mumper

The Wittenberg men's and women's indoor track and field teams put together another solid performance last weekend at the Anderson (Ind.) Indoor Invitational. The Tiger men finished second in a 10-team field, while the Tiger women were third among nine teams in the competition. While the Tigers didn't hoist the team championship trophy, they did come away with several outstanding performances, two of which earned NCAC Athlete of the Week honors. It was the third consecutive week that Wittenberg has had at least one track athlete earn conference honors.

For the women, junior Kristen Mumper (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian) earned NCAC Women's Indoor Track - Sprints/Hurdles Athlete of the Week after establishing three new school records. Mumper set a school record in winning the triple jump with a mark of 36 feet, 1.5 inches and claimed another mark in the 200 meters with a second-place time of 27.46. She put the finishing touches on an outstanding day as she teamed with freshman Anna Finkelstein (Whitehall, Mich./Reeths-Puffer), junior Kelly Zilli (Dayton, Ohio/Alter) and freshman Rebecca Stewart (Knoxville, Tenn./The Webb School) to set a school record in the 1600-meter relay with a winning time of 4:10.50.

The other conference award-winner was junior Demetrius Ellison (Cleveland, Ohio/Trinity), who won the 200 with a school record 23.11 and also took a second place finish in the 55 meter dask with a personal-best time of 6.68. He was named NCAC Men's Indoor Track - Sprints/Hurdles Athlete of the Week.

Also showing well for the women was the 800-meter relay quartet of Finkelstein, Stewart, sophomore Marissa Davoll (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) and freshman Jenny Brigham (Depew, NY/Depew), which placed second. Sophomore Tina Valerius (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) had personal bests in the 55- and 200-meter races. Junior Nikki Norcia (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) recorded a personal best in the 1000. Sophomore Sarah Woodford (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) placed fifth in the 55-meter hurdles with a personal best time. Freshman Sarah Grabenstatter (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview) claimed runner-up honors and second place in the high jump with a personal best of 5-0. Freshman Beth Hurst (Loveland, Ohio/Cincinnati, Sycamore) had a personal best in the weight throw, and freshman Tracy Butler (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) rounded things out with a personal best in the 1500.

On the men's side, freshman Matt Locke (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) placed third in the 55 meters with a personal best time. Sophomore Joe Rumschlag (Maumee, Ohio/Toledo Christian) had another terrific all-around performance with a third in the 200 and a first and personal best in the long jump. Freshman Bill Childers (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) had a personal best finish in the 800. Senior Nate Henderson (Kettering, Ohio/Dayton Carroll), freshman Chris Knapp (Stow, Ohio/Stow-Munroe Falls) and freshman Jesse Burns (Marlington, W.V./Pocahontas) all had their best collegiate performances in the 1000. Freshman Chris Petrik (Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) had a personal best in the 1500. And junior Joel Drake (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) finished third and freshman Adam Stone (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) took fifth fifth in the shot put, the latter with his best throw of the year.

Next: 2/14 at Findlay Open
2/15 All-Ohio (Findlay)