Three titles and broken records highlight Women's Track & Field's opening performance at OAC Championships

The Ohio Northern women's track & field team sits just two points shy of first place at 36 points after Day 1 of the 2012 Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at Otterbein's Clements Recreation & Fitness Center.

Leading the OAC pack is Otterbein with 38 points. In third is Capital with 25 points followed by Baldwin-Wallace with 24.5 points. Fifth place belongs to Mount Union with 19.5 points.

Two individuals and one relay team claimed OAC titles Friday night. Junior Alison Steinburnner defended her conference title in the 3,000 run, and broke a school and OAC meet record finishing in 10:16.45.

She, along with junior Lydia Weaver, sophomore Laura Avino and freshman Shayla Siefker, won the distance medley relay in 12:19.46.

Senior Aubrie Stechshulte won the pole vault clearing 12-0.50, which was an NCAA provisional mark and her season best height. She also finished eighth in the long jump at 16-7.75.

Also recording points on ONU's behalf was senior Kelly Casanova in the 3,000 run finishing fourth in 10:36.86.

"We had a great day today. I don't think I could've asked for anything more," head coach Jason Maus said. "Our athletes responded well. We got some All-OAC performances and NCAA qualifying marks, not to mention setting ourselves up for a great second day."

Looking ahead to Saturday, junior Jordan Buchanan qualified for the 400 dash with a preliminary time of 1:03.69.

Freshman Gabrielle Metzner also moves on to compete in day 2 in the 60 hurdles with her 9.64 finish on Friday.

Day 2 of the OAC Championships kicks off with field events at 10 a.m. (men's triple jump, the women's shot put and the women's high jump). Track events are scheduled to start at 1:45 p.m. with the women's 4x200 relay.