March 29, 2024

The Wittenberg Track and Field Team traveled to Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, where the yearly All-Ohio Invitational was being held. Competition included all NCAA Division III schools across the state, a couple being some of the top teams in the country. The Tigers didn’t back down, ending the day with several top finishes, along with the women placing seventh of 17 and the men at eighth of 17.
Leading on the women’s side was sprinter Tyra Barnes. This freshman from Austintown, Ohio is a natural sprinter, taking a top-eight win in at least one event in every meet thus far this season. On Saturday, she showcased her talents in the 200 meter dash, finishing second at 26.02 seconds, in the 400 meter dash where she clocked in at 57.22 seconds for second as well and raced on the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relay teams.
Barnes, along with senior Alaina Longshore, sophomore Samantha Mitchell and freshman Alexis Gray, were all on the victorious 4×400 meter relay team. Finishing at 3:56.06, their time set a new meet record, beating out the previous time of 3:56.34. The last time was set by Wittenberg’s team last year, a team that included Longshore and Mitchell, along with 2016 alumni Jordan Crow and Brea Meadlock.
The other ladies on the 4×400 meter relay team found success of their own in their respectful events. Longshore raced the 400 meter dash, finishing in fifth place with a time of 59.41 seconds. In the 200 meter dash, Mitchell took eighth with a time of 26.85 seconds. Alexis Gray pulled out a fourth place finish in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:21.96.
After qualifying for the finals as the fifth seed in the 100 meter hurdles, junior Olivia Stevens raced her way to a third place finish with a time of 15.38 seconds. Afterwards, Stevens claimed eighth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:08.51.
Senior Hannah Meier took sixth in the 10,000 meter run, wrapping up with a time of 44:09.42. Placing fourth in javelin, senior Frankie Bowsher threw a distance of 34.74 meters.
The men’s sprints and hurdles were led by junior Tyler Gittins. Twice named NCAC Men’s Sprinter of the Week, he took first place victories at least five times this year between his two individual events.
Saturday was yet another first place finish in the 400 meter hurdles, timing at 53.61 seconds, beating out his opponent by one hundredth of a second in a photo finish.
Sophomore Kyle Farnbauch beat out Gittins for the first time this season in the 110 meter hurdles, finishing at 15.36 and a tenth of a second in front of his teammate.
After qualifying for the finals, freshman Tyler Branton took a fifth place finish in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.92 seconds. Claiming a second place finish was senior Cody Shutt, an up and coming All-NCAC athlete.
Shutt took the 400 meter dash with a time at 48.95 seconds, beaten out by a close hundredth of a second. Freshman Kenny Mayes took on the 800 meter run, placing seventh with a time of 1:58.19. Gittins, sophomore Ryan Hale, Mayes and Shutt combined to create the 4×400 relay team that claimed third with a time of 3:19.48.
The 10,000 meter run showcased sophomore Charles Rodeheffer and senior Jon Osman, finishing first with a time of 33:57.74 and fifth at 34:58.22, respectively.
The Tigers will travel to Ohio Northern University on Saturday, April 22 to compete in the Polar Bear Invite.

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