Ohio track team not slowing down

by Jonathan Kane
Staff Writer

The Ohio indoor track team traveled to Columbus Saturday for the Ohio State Invitational with the intentions of getting more individuals qualified for the Mid-American Conference championships Feb. 22-23. For both the men’s and women’s teams, times, not places were emphasized.

The women’s team came away with three individual first place finishes.

Ohio runner Foli James had a strong showing for the women’s team with a first place leap of 18 feet, 8.5 inches in the long jump, a jump of 5 feet, 3.75 inches in the high jump, and a time of 8.82 seconds in the 60-meter high hurdles. Jill Meranda, the team’s top pole-vaulter took first with a vault of 10 feet 6 inches. Jumpers Michelle Borsz and Sarah List each contributed in the high jump with clearances of 5 feet 5.75 inches, and 5 feet 3.75 inches respectively.

Kelly Felter won the 3,000-meter run in 10:35.95, but her time fell short of the qualifying mark. Jen Martin contributed with a time of 25.79 in the 200-meter run and Heather Moore recorded her season-best jump of 36 feet 5.5 inches in the triple jump.  

Jumpers Rebekah Diehl and Kellie Griffin both posted qualifying distances in the long jump, but only three individuals per team can qualify for events in the MAC championships. Diehl’s jump of 17 feet 11.5 inches filled the final qualifying spot for the Bobcats. 

Ohio coach Elmore Banton said Ohio had some outstanding individual performances in the meet.

“We had some kids tune-up very well,” Banton said. “We had about seven performances that were better than we had all year and we had a lot of kids run pretty well, but came up short (of qualifying).”

R.J. Redd continued to be one of the strong points for the men’s team, placing third in the 200 meter dash (22.42). John Whitney recorded his season-best mark of 44 feet 8.75 inches in the triple jump, while Steve Godek contributed with a throw of 50 feet 8.25 inches in the shot put.          

Jason Lanza qualified for the MAC meet with a time of 8.55 in the 60-meter high hurdles. He said the team knew the goal was to qualify several runners for the MAC Championships.

“It was a good opportunity to work on the little things to get fine tuned for next week,” Lanza said. “I’m pretty sure everybody stayed healthy and will be ready.”

The Bobcats travel to Bowling Green Feb. 22-23 to compete in the MAC Championship meet. The meet begins at 11 a.m at the Perry Field House in Bowling Green.