Track team splits looking for more success

by Paul Shugar
Staff Writer

A few Ohio track team members spent the weekend at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn., while the rest of the team took place in an Easter hunt of their own at the Miami Invitational.

Ohio did not find its goal when the title at the Miami Invitational eluded the Bobcats. The women and men both placed fourth with 94 and 71 points, respectively. Purdue won the women's meet with 176 points; Western Michigan ran away with the men's title, scoring 264 points.

Still, Ohio coach Elmore Banton said he was happy with the performances.

"I think we showed again that we're improving week to week, but I told them that I did not think they were as focused and pumped up as they usually were," Banton said.

Thrower Mary Williams showed up ready with a throw of 42.9 meters and was the lone winner for the women. She tied for leading scorer with 11 points when she won the discus and took eighth in the hammer throw.

Thrower Heather Moore also scored 11 points with a sixth-place finish in the high jump and a second place in the javelin.

Sprinter Jennifer Martin placed second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.54 seconds, and jumper Sarah List took second with a long jump of 5 feet, 7 inches. Jumper Martine Ward took third in the triple jump, and thrower Amber Moore took third in the javelin with a throw of 123 feet, 6 inches.

At the Sea Ray Relays sprinter/hurdler Melody Royster took 14th of 47 in the 100-meter hurdles, and Michelle Borsz finished in a four-way tie for eighth place in the high jump.

"I think we were all happy with how we did," Royster said. "It gave us experience we can use at the (Mid-American Conference) meet and other big meets."

Men's sprinter Martin Jackson, who said he was overwhelmed by the competition, found himself 22nd at the Sea Ray Relays with a 21.61 in the 200 meters.

"It was the fastest times I ever saw," he said.

Thrower Brett Williamson, the only other male competitor to qualify for the Sea Ray Relays from Ohio, did not have his throws measured because officials did not record any throws less than 190 feet.

The remaining throwers led the men at the Miami Invitational. Steve Godek led Ohio by placing first in the javelin with a personal-best throw of 58.24 meters and fourth in the shot put with a throw of 15.2 meters for 15 points.

The performance was solid for the Bobcats, which had to do without one of their top throwers Nick Pero, who twisted his ankle in practice.

Hurdler Steve Schaub was the second highest scorer with 14.75 points with third places in both the 110 hurdles in 14.8 seconds and 400 hurdles in 53.99.

Top high jumper James Taylor, in his first meet back from injury placed third with a leap of 1.98 meters, and long jumper Kwasi Apraku-Gyau took sixth in both the triple jump and long jump for Ohio.

Sprinter Roger Redd was also a double-placer with a fourth and fifth place in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Cincinnati will try to defend the Southern Cup Invitational Title when the Ohio men's and women's teams reunite the squads at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Goldsberry Track.