Feb. 16, 2008

By Gary Petit

WESTERVILLE — The Ohio Northern men’s track and field team continued its stellar performance by dominating the All-Ohio Championships Saturday afternoon at the Clement Center on the campus of Otterbein.

ONU finished with a 114 total points, which was 24 points ahead of Heidelberg (90) in second. Ohio Wesleyan (75.33) finished third while Baldwin-Wallace (44) took fourth followed by Defiance (32.33) in fifth.

The race of the day was the men’s 4x400-meter relay where the team of sophomore Joe Amstutz, freshmen Shane Huntley, Jeff Messmer and junior national champion Jimmy O’Brien held off a hard charging Heidelberg team to take first in an ONU record time of 3:22.55. Both teams eclipsed the previous meet record by almost two seconds.

O’Brien added to his outstanding day with a first in the 800-meter run with an NCAA provisional mark of 1:54.20. He also was the anchor leg for the victorious distance medley relay team. O’Brien was joined by junior Eric Porter, Messmer and Amstutz to win the event in a time of 10:25.78.

Senior All-American Ryan Robertson continued his strong winter with a first in the 55-meter dash in 6.52. He also finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 22-3 and ran the opening leg of the 4x200-meter relay that took second in a season-best time of 1:30.95. Joining him in the relay was freshman Ryan Fleming, junior Justin Linzy and freshman Julian Horn.

Fellow freshman Jacob Fox won the 55-meter hurdles in a time of 7.55. He also leaped a career-best 22-4.25 in the long jump to finish third.

Amstutz finished third in the 400-meter dash with a season-best time of 51.02.

The Polar Bears also turned in good performances in the distance events.

Sophomore Alan Bowsher finished second in the 5,000-meter run in a career-best time of 15:26.39. Junior Paul Lewis followed him in sixth in a time of 15:33.44.

In the mile run, junior Thomas Adam turned in his season-best time of 4:23.42 to take fourth.

Sophomore Jacob Weyrauch led three Polar Bear placers in the pole vault with a mark of 14-5.25 to finish second. Freshman Andrew Lammers tied for fourth with a height of 13-11.25 and junior J.T. Perez finished seventh with the same mark.

“The men had a tremendous day today,” said head coach Brian Cole. “Everybody clicked and we had some outstanding performances. Anytime we can win a meet like this, its a great day.

The Polar Bears will return home this Friday to host the ONU Friday Night Series Meet #5. Action will begin at 6 pm.