SPRINGFIELD, OH - The Wittenberg Men's and Women's track and field teams had a strong showing at the Gem City Invitational, co-hosted with the University of Dayton in the Steemer. The competition, which served as Senior Recognition Day for UD's women's team, featured a diverse mix of high-level teams from across the region, including NCAA Division I programs, Miami (Ohio), Northern Kentucky, Ohio University, Wright State, Ball State, and Xavier University, thus offering a challenging environment for the Tigers.
The men's squad put up solid performances in several events. In the 200-meter event, senior Cameron Elliott (Springfield, OH/Springfield) clocked in an impressive 22.20 seconds, finishing third in his event. Freshman Jack Kittle (Chagrin Falls, OH/Chagrin Falls) followed by getting 5th in the event with a time of 22.24 and freshman Elijah Simmons (Jacksonville, FL/Groveport) also contributed with a strong time of 22.45 seconds and placing 7th.
Other Tiger men to finish in the top-five included Riley Payne (Hamilton, OH/Trenton Edgewood), second in the 60-meter hurdles, Mataio Robinson (Dayton, OH/ Meadowdale), third in the 60-meter hurdles, Lukas Rieben (Clayton, OH/Northmont), fourth in the 3K, Bryce Ray (Sun City, FL/Sumner), fourth in the long jump, Ammaar Lakes (Cleveland, OH/ Cleveland Heights), fourth in the triple jump, Justin Norris (Middletown, OH/Middletown Christian), tied for second in the high jump, and Andrew Owen (Springfield, OH/Springfield), fourth in the high jump.
The women's team was also a force to be reckoned with at the Invitational, as senior Meghan Frazier (Alliance, OH/Alliance) delivered one of the most exciting moments of the day. Frazier dominated the 400-meter event with a time of 56.84 and a third-place finish in the event. That time also set an indoor school record for Wittenberg Women's Track and Field.
Other Tiger women to finish in the top-five included Reese Neumeyer (Whitehouse, OH/Anthony Wayne), fifth in the 60-meter hurdles, Izzy Henderson (East Liberty, OH/Benjamin Logan), fifth in the long jump, G'Niyah Brown (Dayton, OH/Wayne), fourth in the triple jump, Julissa Williams (Lorain, OH/Lorain), fifth in the high jump, and Taylor Weiss (Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty), second in the high jump.
While the Gem City Invitational did not feature team standings, the individual results from Wittenberg athletes proved that the Tigers are in strong form heading into the rest of the indoor track and field season. The Tigers return to action next week, on February 14-15 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.