Tigers Turn In Solid Performances At Wittenberg Invitational

Photo by Erin Pence
Photo by Erin Pence
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg track and field teams hosted their first home meet in four years Saturday and captured some solid performances in a meet that also featured Kentucky State, Otterbein, Capital and Wilmington.

The Tigers finished in a second-place tie on the women's side with Kentucky State with 37 points. Otterbein won the meet with 71 points. On the men's side, Wilmington was the winner with 48 points, 10 more than Otterbein. Wittenberg placed fifth in a tightly bunched pack.

For the women, senior Catherine Kuerbitz (Cleveland, Ohio/Regina) and junior Paige Lloyd (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf) each won individual events, Kuerbitz in the 400-meter dash on a time of 1:02.73 and Lloyd in the pole vault at 10-8.25. Lloyd added a third-place finish in the long jump on a mark of 15-11.75.

The women's 4x100 relay team was a winner as well on a time of 50.24, consisting of sophomore Ashley Milliner (Beachwood, Ohio/Beachwood), freshman Jeanette Klamfoth (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley), freshman Leslie Goshia (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) and freshman Kristin Mercer (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield).

The Tigers scored a number of second-place finishes, including Goshia in the long jump, Klamfoth in the 400 hurdles and junior Kaileigh Bible (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) in the pole vault.

The women also saw third-place performances by Shawna Johnson in the 100 dash, freshman Lillian Hill (Dayton, Ohio/Dominion Academy) in the 400 dash, sophomore Molly King (Springfield, Ohio/Northeastern) in the 1500-meter run and sophomore Angela Roll (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) in the high jump.

On the men's side, sophomore Victor Banjo (Sugarland, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) continued to dominate the 100 dash with another first-place finish, turning in a time of 10.51, and freshman Justin Yates (Dayton, Ohio/Bellbrook) won the 400 dash on a time of 49.32.

Freshman Charles Watson (Star, Idaho/Eagle) was second in the 400 hurdles and junior Sven Isaacson (Dalton, Ohio/Dalton) matched in the hammer throw, while Watson led his 4x400 teammates to a second-place finish, including Yates, senior Ryan Hagen (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) and sophomore Chris Frierson (Cedar Hill, Texas/DeSoto).

Third-place finishes were added by sophomore Jacob Kuntz (Versailles, Ky./Woodford County) in the 1500-meter run and sophomore Logan Jackson (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) in the hammer throw.

The Tigers now turn their attention to the All-Ohio Invitational, hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, on Saturday, April 14.

Written By: John Strawn '07