Anna Finkelstein
The Wittenberg men's and women's track and field teams are
heading into the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship meet
with a great deal of momentum, created by strong finishes by
several Tiger athletes in the decathlon and heptathlon events
hosted by Wittenberg last weekend.
Battling through the elements - rain, snow, high winds, cold
temperatures - was no problem for senior Joe Rumschlag
(Maumee, Ohio/Toledo Christian), who earned his first
conference decathlon title after finishing second a year ago. He
continues an amazing run of success in the event - four Wittenberg
athletes have won the last seven NCAC decathlon titles (Josh
Guerreri in 1999, 2000 and 2001; Brian Gehle in 2002; Tim Gaal in
2003 and 2004; Joe Rumschlag in 2005).
Wittenberg athletes took three of the top four places in the
decathlon, giving the Tigers 21 points toward the conference
championship standings. Sophomore Mark O'Brien (Shavertown,
Pa./Dallas Senior) finished third and senior Chad
Kresser (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) took fourth.
In the heptathlon, Wittenberg picked up seventh and eighth-place
finishes from junior Anna Finkelstein (Whitehall,
Mich./Reeths-Puffer) and freshman Alissa Goble
(Sunfield, Mich./Lakewood) respectively. It was the first
collegiate heptathlon for each.
The rest of the team was supposed to compete at the Wilmington
Invitational, but that event was cancelled due to the strange
weather. It was the second meet of the spring called off due to
freak snowstorms this year.
The Tigers are back in action Friday and Saturday in the NCAC
Championships. Wittenberg placed fourth in the indoor men's
competition and seventh in the indoor women's competition in early
March.
Next: 4/29-30 NCAC Championships @ Ohio
Wesleyan