Yoder Picks Up Second OAC Weekly Honor

Freshman Joe Yoder (West Liberty, Ohio / West Liberty) of the Heidelberg University men’s track and field team showcased his versatility last week at the Northwood Invitational to take home the decathlon championship and inked his name among the nation’s best. His efforts have been recognized this week earning him Ohio Athletic Conference Men’s Field Co-Athlete of the Week. He shares the honor with Muskingum College’s Demetrius Bailey. It is Yoder’s second athlete of the week honor for the season.
 
At Northwood, Yoder participated in his first decathlon of his career and finished first with 6,229 points. His point total is a provisional qualifying mark for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships hosted by Marietta College, May 21-23. He took over the top spot by 526 points. En route to the championship he won eight of 10 events.
 
In the field, Yoder won the high jump (6’4”), shot put (35’1.25”), discus (98’5”) and the javelin (150’7”). He took third in the long jump with a leap of 19’8.25” and was fifth in the pole vault, clearing 10’5.5”.
 
Yoder was equally impressive on the track, taking first in all four events. He ran an 11.41 in the 100-meter dash and clocked a 50.42 in the 400-meter dash. He rounded out the decathlon with a time of 4:40.10 in the 1,500-meter run and was first in the 110-meter hurdles in 16.12.
 
Heidelberg will look to claim the program’s third OAC championship when they head to Wilmington College this weekend for the OAC Championships.