Versatility Shows at OAC Black Meet

Over the course of the first few outings on the 2009 outdoor track and field season Heidelberg University first year head coach Keith Roberts Jr. and his staff are looking for the winning combination for both the men’s and women’s programs. To help assist in problem solving the Berg took part in the OAC Black Meet hosted by Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. Heidelberg joined host Wilmington, Capital University, Ohio Northern University and Otterbein College at the meet.

Heidelberg utilized its versatility to put a wealth of athletes in a variety of events. And the result was added points not only in the sprints, but middle distance, as well as its field events. In the end, the men’s team took second with 155 points. Ohio Northern won the meet with 215 points and Wilmington took third at 109. On the women’s side, Otterbein won with 137 points followed by Ohio Northern (155) and Heidelberg (96).

On the track for the men, freshman Joe Yoder (West Liberty, Ohio / West Liberty Salem) excelled in the hurdle events. He opened the day taking second in the 110-meter high hurdles in a time of 15.11, only to gain redemption with a first in the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 54.81. Backing Yoder in the 400-meter hurdles was Brett Meadows (Marysville, Ohio / Bellefontaine) with a second in 57.31. Meadows also tried his luck on the straight away and finished third in the 100-meter dash (11.34).

Following in Yoder’s footsteps and taking home first place honors was Wes Hendricks (Beavercreek, Ohio / Beavercreek) in the 400-meter dash. Hendricks topped the field with a time of 49.38.Taking first in the 800-meter run was Mark Childs (New Albany, Ohio / New Albany) (1:58.98), while Terrence Horton (Pickerington, Ohio /Pickerington) paced Childs and took second in a time of 1:59.01.

Individually for the women on the track, Judy Bataille (Felicity, Ohio / Felicity-Franklin), the two-time indoor 55-meter national champion, took her speed outdoors and was impressive in her first outing. She won the 100-meter dash in a NCAA Division III Championship provisionally qualifying time of 12.17. Her time also topped her own school record of 12.22 that she set in her first outing a year ago.

Also taking home top honors on the track for the women was freshman Tomika Brown (Bellefontaine, Ohio / Bellefontaine) in the 100-meter hurdles. She crossed the finish line in 15.35.

Taking home runner-up honors in the 200-meter dash was Jasmine Shaw (Columbus, Ohio / Hamilton Township). She ran the 200 in 26.41. Shaw also finished third in the 400-meter dash (1:00.17) and Angela Zellner (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) was on her heels, finishing fourth in 1:01.47.

Having an impressive showing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase was senior Erica Tenwalde (Ada, Ohio / Lima Shawnee). Tenwalde took home third place in a time of 12:24.24.

Heidelberg scored top-three finishes in three relays apiece on the day. The men’s team took home first in the 4x400-meter relay. The group of Seth Robertson (Burton, Ohio / Newbury), Childs, Horton and Hendricks topped the field with a time of 3:22.28.

Charles Stone (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield North), Paris Hilliard (Lorain, Ohio / Admiral King), Meadows and Hendricks were second in the 4x100-meter relay, crossing the finish line in 42.75. Also taking home second for the relays was the 4x800-meter team of Zachary Sendelbach (New London, Ohio / New London), Shondell Thomas (Westerville, Ohio / Westerville Central), David Jacobson (Chardon, Ohio / Chardon) and Joseph Janson (Dayton, Ohio / Carroll) (8:40.68).

In the women’s relay events, the 4x400-meter relay team of Shaw, Zellner, Jamie Depinet (New Riegel, Ohio /New Riegel) and Bataille made it a ’Berg sweep with a first in 4:02.96.

The quartet of Shanice McLellan (Lima, Ohio / Lima Senior), Brown, Shaw and Bataille were second in the 4x100-meter relay (49.24), while Lilly Hansberger (Norwalk, Ohio / Western Reserve), Jessica Jones (Wauseon, Ohio / Wauseon), Lauren Bruynis (Upper Sandusky, Ohio / Upper Sandusky) and Alison Marty (Amherst, Ohio /Amherst Steele) took home third in the 4x800-meter relay (11:26.05).

Moving to the field events, Heidelberg profiled not only some versatility but also depth on both sides. Paving the way was freshman Wayne Lanum (Marengo, Ohio / Highland). Lanum topped the field in both the shot put and discus. He heaved the shot put 48’4.75” and sent the discus 129’3”. Not to be outdone, he took a try at the javelin and just missed scoring points with a seventh place finish. He threw the javelin 124’10”.

Frank Medina (Wakeman, Ohio / Western Reserve) backed Lanum in the discus with a third place finish with a toss of 125’10”, while Kevin Mermin (Rossford, Ohio / Rossford) was fourth in the shot put (38’8.25”).

Another name for the Berg men’s team making it into the top-two on the day was Josh Bowmar (Marengo, Ohio / Highland). Bowmar took home runner-up honors in the long jump with a leap of 21’0.75”.

In the women’s field events, Brown was a national qualifier in the indoor high jump this year and earned All-American honors. She has wasted little time getting adjusted to the outdoor scene as she took home the title today and just missed provisionally qualifying for outdoor nationals. Brown cleared 5’4.25” to top the rest of the competition.

Having a solid outing for the throwers was freshman Alyssa Lucius (Tiffin, Ohio / Old Fort). Lucius was second in discus (107’02”) and fourth in the shot put (35’0.50”).

Heidelberg continues with its outdoor slate at the Don Frail Invitational hosted by Marietta College April 4.