Men's indoor races to 13th straight ODAC
Shiloh Wolfrey, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Sports
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The men's track and field team was ranked first in the southeast region and 13th in the nation. The men won with 193 points, essentially eliminating the six other competitors: Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Guilford College, Roanoke College, Virginia Wesleyan College and Washington and Lee University. Bridgewater, LC's biggest competition in the championship, took second place with 84 points and Roanoke took third place with 74 points.
This is their 13th title in a row and their 20th title in the last 21 years.
"We are respected nationally," Director of Athletics and Head Coach Dr. Jack Toms said. "We had depth down the line in all of the events."
Sophomore Evan Ellison was one athlete who was very successful in his events. He won the 55-meter dash in 6.47, an NCAA qualifying mark; won the 200-meter dash in 22.79 and also led his team of sophomore Thomas Clark, freshman Dakota Pellman and sophomore Sam Steinke in the 4 x 400 relay, winning in 3:27.20 and taking another title. Steinke also won the 400-meter dash in 50.41.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year senior Ricky Flynn won the mile run in 4.20.06.
Sophomore James Bell won the high jump with 6'06 ¾" as well as the pole vault with 15'05" and earned himself the title of Athlete of the Meet.
Senior Daniel Reid won the weight throw with a hurl of 56'6 ½".
Toms said he was impressed with the overall results of the men winning the ODACs.
"If we did what we were capable, I thought we would win, but you never know. I did not expect anything," he said.
The women's team scored a total of 137 points and came in second to Roanoke, who led with 139 points.
Freshman LaCear Hubbard won the 500-meter dash in 7.54, won the long jump in 18'02 ½" qualifying her for the NCAA and took third in the triple jump with 36'03 ½".
Senior Ashley Meyer, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, won the mile with 5:22.78, the 800-meter dash with 2:24.80 and came in fourth in the 5000-meter dash with 19:14.58.
Sophomore Christina Washington took third in the 400-meter dash with 59.14 and the 200-meter dash with 26.86.
Junior Ashley Allen won the weight throw with a heave of 47'11 ¼" and the shot put with a throw of 38'04 ¼".
Freshmen Mel McFayden, Ashley Ramey, Kelsey Shelton and Washington won the 4x400 relay with 4:02.48, but Roanoke came in second, which was enough to edge LC and allow them to win overall by two points.
Toms said it was tough to lose that close, but he is very pleased with the both the men's and women's teams and the overall results of the ODACs.
"Our team could be strong for years to come," he said.
Bell, Ellison, Flynn, Reid and Hubbard will compete in the NCAA this Saturday at Virginia Tech.
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