By Gary R. Rasberry
grasberry@dailystandard.com The college track season is slowly winding down as conference meets begin to get started.
The Heartland Conference held its conference meet on April 24 with the Bluffton College women's track team taking the team title, the first-ever title for the women's program.
Sophomore Rita Muether shined at the HC meet. The Celina native was named the Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete of the Meet after winning the 400- and 200-meter dashes, both establishing new school records in the event. Muether also ran legs of the Beavers' winning 400 and 1,600 relays.
Bearcats second atSouthern Ohio Cup
The University of Cinncinnati women's track team placed second in the annual Southern Ohio Cup meet with Miami and Ohio University held last Saturday in Athens.
Bearcat sophomore Jenni Schmitmeyer had a strong day for the Bearcats. The Minster grad placed second in the discus with a top throw of 43.52 meters and fourth in the shot put with a shot of 12.44 meters.
Another area competitor faring well was St. John's grad Melissa Gedeon, who placed fifth in the 800 run, seventh in the high jump and javelin and 10th in the long jump.
Springer impressive
for Falcons
Bowling Green freshman Lyndi Springer (Celina) has been a strong contributor to the Falcons' women's track team this season.
Springer competed last week at a dual meet with Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti, where the Falcons won 13 of 17 events. Springer took second in the 400 hurdles and fourth in the 100 hurdles.
Versailles graduate Melissa Krueger won the 1,500 run at the meet.
Heinfeld gets provisional
University of Findlay thrower Sarah Heinfeld (New Bremen) earned a provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Division II championships at the Penn Relays last Saturday in Philadelphia. The provisional is not an automatic invitation to the national championship but could earn an invitiation based on the number of at-large openings.
Heinfeld threw the shot 45-21/2 to place 11th in the College Women's Division and earn the provisional. Heinfeld also placed 19th in the hammer throw with a toss of 160-7.
Shaffer competes in Cardinal Open
Wright State freshman Ashley Shaffer (Parkway) competed April 23 at the Cardinal Open at the University of Louisville.
Shaffer placed 16th in 1,500 run, coming in with a time of 5:02.74.
Shaffer competes in the Horizon League Championships this weekend at Indianapolis.
Rolfes MCC pole vault champ
Indiana Wesleyan junior Jared Rolfes (Celina) won the Mid-Central Conference pole vault title last weekend at Goshen College.
Rolfes cleared a top height of 13-6, six inches better than runner-up Matt Cunningham of Bethel.
The Wildcats placed fourth in the meet.
Rolfes will compete this week in the National Christian College Athletic Association championship meet at IWU. Rolfes' seed height of 4.50 meters is the second best of the 18 competitors. |
