Dan Sabol
Despite the frigid cold outside, the Wittenberg men’s and women’s track and field teams have managed to start the indoor season off on a hot streak. The teams will look to build off of their momentum as they attempt to win the North Coast Athletic Conference.
On Saturday, the Tigers competed in a five team meet at rival Wooster. The men’s team won the meet, with the women’s team coming in second by just two points. One of the highlights of the meet was a record breaking performance by the women’s 4×200 meter relay team. Brea Medlock, Frankie Bowsher, Aaliyah Myers and Alaina Longshore combined to break the school record in the event.
The men’s 4×200 team dominate the competition and won the event by three seconds, almost an eternity in short distance races. Victor Banjo, Chris Frierson, Eric Hood and Aaron Melsop combined for the impressive victory.
Banjo is also one of the top individual sprinters in the country, and is a threat to win a national championship this season. Melsop won the long jump and came in second in the triple jump.
Coach Craig Penney is extremely excited for the season, and sees big things ahead for the Tigers.
“We want to continue to finish higher at the conference meet, a real challenge, these athletes have accepted the challenge and are focused on improving the team and culture,” Penney said.
He also explained some of the differences between the indoor and outdoor track seasons. “Indoor season is a small modification for the outdoor season,” he explained. “We use the indoor season as a path way to develop skill levels and assess the talents levels, so that when we get outdoors we have solid information and a plan in place to advance the talent level.”
If the start to the indoor season is any indication, it seems that the Tigers will be quite successful whether they are indoor or outside.
“The team has progressed well, a very solid indoor season and a strong competitive team,” Penney continued. He said that the team is, “looking forward to the next few meets leading to All-Ohio Championships and the conference meet, then the National meet at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.”
