D. J. Hlovchiec
The Wittenberg men's and women's indoor track and field teams
got off to decent starts to the 2005 season in the last two
weekends, including a pair of fifth-place finishes at the Marietta
Invitational on Jan. 22 and deceiving finishes of fifth and seventh
at the North Coast Athletic Conference Relays on Jan. 29 at
Denison.
The results at the NCAC Relays were deceptive because the teams
were without several key performers due to injury or illness, and
then the men's 800-meter relay was botched on the final leg with a
dropped baton despite a big lead. Still, a lot of young athletes
got their first taste of collegiate competition and made the most
of it.
At Marietta, the men were led by senior Joe Rumschlag
(Maumee, Ohio/Toledo Christian), who finished in the top
three in three different events, freshman D.J. Hlovchiec
(Loveland, Ohio/Cincinnati Moeller), who was second in the
pole vault with a mark that just missed the school record, and
freshman David Emrath (Elsmere, Ky./Lloyd), who
was first in the 500 meters.
At the NCAC Relays, Rumschlag had the best finish with the best
triple jump in the competition. He was also part of the
second-place long jump relay with sophomore Gregg Carter
(Wellsville, Ohio/Wellsville). Two other relays finished
second as well: the sprint medley with Carter, Rumschlag, Emrath
and freshman Sean Gouch (Columbus, Ohio/Mifflin)
and the 1600-meter relay with Rumschlag, Emrath, Gouch and junior
Chad Kresser (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay).
On the women's side, freshman Nicole Bailey (Cincinnati,
Ohio/Summit Country Day) was the top finisher at the
Marietta Invitational as she placed third in the 55 meters and
second in the 200 meters. At the NCAC Relays, the team's top finish
was produced by the members of the shot put relay as freshman
Allison Walker (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus Academy)
and junior Michele Gardner (Bellevue, Ohio/Norwalk St.
Paul) took third place.
Next: 2/4 at Cedarville