The Ashland University track and field teams competed at the Wooster Invitational and in Cincinnati at the Nikoloff Invitational this weekend (Mar. 30-31). Information on both events can be found below.
Nikoloff Invitational
This event was held at the University of Cincinnati and matched the nationally-ranked Eagles against a field with a Division I flavor.
For the men, the 4x400 relay claimed the gold medal with a time of 3:15.80. Miami (Ohio) was second (3:17.57). The Ashland quartet included freshman Damian Winner (Versailles, Ohio), senior Tom Scott (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee), freshman Drew Windle (New Albany, Ohio) and sophomore Keith Cleveland (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaker Heights).
The men's 4X100 relay was the runner-up in 42.04. Tiffin won that event (41.47). The group running for Ashland included freshman Brian Pongallo (Olmsted Falls, Ohio), Cleveland, junior DeAndre Davis (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) and junior Jordan Hoppel (North Olmsted, Ohio).
Cleveland was second in the 400 (48.54). Only Miami's Jahquil Hargrove (48.48) got to the finish line before Cleveland. Davis was fourth in the 100 (11.02) and fifth in the 200 (22.22).
Freshman Brian Baum (Marlington, Ohio) was third in the 800 (1:53.45) and senior Matt Stratman (Chardon, Ohio) was fourth in the 1500 (14:33.80). Scott was fourth in the 400 (49.65).
Junior Garrett Grey (Grahamsville, N.Y./Tri-Valley Central) finished first in the hammer (204-00). Junior Craig Call (Little Hocking, Ohio/Warren) was fourth (183-11).
For the women, freshman Jennifer Foster (Lodi, Ohio/Cloverleaf) won the gold medal in the high jump (5-6). Senior Cheryl Bourne (New Straitsville, Ohio/Miller) was second in the heptathlon (5103 points). First place went to Kaitlyn Good of Cincinnati (5150).
Freshman Shaunisha Winters (Heath, Ohio) was third in the triple jump (35-9.25) and junior Kendra Bassitt (Lima, Ohio/Bluffton) was third in the 100 hurdles (14.64).
The AU men finished fifth with 91 points. Cincinnati had 156 points to lead the 13-team field. Miami (123) was second.
The Ashland women were seventh with 48 points. Cincinnati won the team trophy with 191.50 points and Marquette was second with 102 points. The women's field also listed 13 schools.
Wooster Invitational
This invite was staged on Friday (Mar. 30). In the women's hammer, freshman Kim Habegger (Jeromesville, Ohio/Hillsdale) was second (160-6). Senior Janine Tessarzik (Altamont, N.Y./Tennessee) was third (158-9) and junior Katelyn Exner (Woodbourne, N.Y./Tri-Valley Central) was fourth (143-8).
In the men's discus, junior Chris Powell (Oak Forest, Ill.) won the gold medal (162-4). Sophomore Kyle Steinhauser (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) was second (159-1) and freshman Zac Ball (Amherst, Ohio/Firelands) was third (156-7). Freshman James Clay Harris (Newark, Ohio/Newark Catholic) was fourth (156-5).
Sophomore Scott Ackerman (Bellevue, Ohio) finished first in the 3000 steeplechase (9:47.10). In the 1500, freshman Matt Wiehe (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria Catholic) finished second (4:15.95). Freshman Ben Majewski (Napolean, Ohio) was third (4:17.73) and freshman Brandon Mesnard (Bascom, Ohio) was fourth (4:19.83).
AU
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