Track team still trying to make up ground

by Paul Shugar
Staff Writer

Akron and Kent State found a way to slow down an Ohio track team that lacks depth—run all the events at the same time.

Ohio runner Foli James, who ran a career best time of 14.09 seconds in the 100 hurdles, said the poorly planned meet still made it hard for athletes to compete.

"All my events were really close and the people in charge of the meet weren’t running it all that well and everything got backed up," James said. "My field and running events all started at the same time so I had no time and was running from event to event."

Despite dozens of personal bests for the men and women, both Ohio teams placed third at the Ohio Tri-Meet in Akron Saturday. Kent State won the women’s title with 151 points, Akron scored 116 and Ohio 115. For the men, Akron won with 152 points followed by Kent State with 139 and Ohio with 99.

Despite the hectic schedule, the women posted four first place finishes. Jen Martin ran a season best 24.65 seconds to win the 200-meter dash. She also helped pace the 1,600 relay team to another season best with a first place time of 3:47.07.

Mary Reynolds finished in 11:59.7 for first place in the 3,000 steeplechase. Sarah List rounded out first place scorers with a high jump of 5 feet, 4.25 inches.

Jill Meranda broke her own school record in the pole vault by clearing 11 feet 5.75 inches for third place. In the throwing events, Heather Moore scored a third place in the javelin while Lacey Poff and Mary Williams took second and third in the discus.

Kelly Felter ran under 18 minutes for the first time in the 5,000 with a second-place time of 17:57.68. Lindsay Nemastil took second in the 1,500 while C’Rai Weeden placed second in the 400 to round out the top Ohio finishers on the track.

For the men, Jason Linton also ran a double to pull out the team’s lone first place. Linton ran a personal best 3:58.26 in the 1,500 for first place, then followed with a fourth place score in the 800 in 1:55.28.

Linton said he has adjusted to running the double.

"I wasn’t sure I could pull it (the double) off and do good at both," he said. "I thought I would try hard at one and do whatever on the other, but so far it has been working out well."

Ohio coach Elmore Banton said Linton should continue to emerge as a top scorer.

"Linton is going to be one sensational runner by the time he is a senior," he said. "Those doubles he never did in high school, especially the mile and 800 that are almost back to back."

Also having success in the distance events were Justin Kempe in the steeplechase and Drew Frum in the 5,000. Both earned second-place finishes.

Roger Redd ran a 21.71 to capture second in the 200. Jason Lanza ran a career best 54.45 in the 400 hurdles for third place on the track.

In the field, Kyle Sheer cleared 6 feet 4. 75 inches in the high jump for second, while Steve Godek led the throwers with a second-place throw of 168 feet in the javelin.

The Bobcats now relax before the Mid-American Conference Championships May 16-18 with the intrasquad Ohio open at noon this Saturday at Goldsberry Track.