Chris Frierson's Three Wins Highlight Otterbein Invite Finish

Chris Frierson won one individual event and two relays at the Otterbein Invitational. File Photo | Erin Pence
Chris Frierson won one individual event and two relays at the Otterbein Invitational. File Photo | Erin Pence

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Wittenberg men’s and women’s track and field teams turned in solid performances at the Otterbein Invitational, both placing fourth.

The Tiger men finished fourth out of seven teams with 80 points. The host Cardinals led with 174.5, followed by Wilmington with 137 and Capital with 106.5.

On the women’s side, there were nine teams in the field, with Otterbein again taking the top spot with 209.5 points. Wilmington was next with 101 points, followed by Capital with 90 and Wittenberg with 78.5.

Junior Chris Frierson (Cedar Hill, Texas/DeSoto) captured a first-place finish in the 500-meter dash, while sophomore Adam Kapuscinski (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) added a second in the 800-meter run. Frierson also placed first in the 4x200-meter relay, where he was joined by freshman Daniel Emory (Blacklick, Ohio/New Albany), sophomore Justin Yates (Dayton, Ohio/Bellbrook) and junior Victor Banjo (Sugarland, Texas/Stephen F. Austin), and in the 4x400-meter relay with freshman Asanka Ekanayake (Clarksburg, Mo./Clarksburg), freshman Laike Wallace (Washington Court House, Ohio/Washington Court House) and Yates.

Freshman Lauren Morabito (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) reached the finish line first in the 400-meter dash. Other top women’s finishers were sophomore Shelby Kaho (Sugar Grove, Ohio/Berne Union) in third place in the 60-meter hurdles, freshman Rebecah Delp (York, Pa./Eastern York) in second place in the triple jump and freshmen Megan Bittinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Christian) and Brea Medlock (Galena, Ohio/Big Walnut) in fourth and fifth place, respectively, in the 800-meter run.

Rounding things out, the Tigers took second in both women’s relays. The quartet of Delp, junior Vanessa Ladd (Columbus, Ohio/Marion Franklin), Morabito and Medlock placed second in the 4x200-meter relay and the foursome of freshman Paige Vanerstrom (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), Morabito, freshman Jordan Crow (North Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) and Medlock took second in the 4x400-meter relay.