Maggie Krause wins pole vault title to lead Women's Track and Field on day one at Findlay Alumni Classic & Elite Throws

By Blake Moore

FINDLAY — Junior pole vault specialist Maggie Krause (Chagrin Falls/Kenston) captured her second individual event title in the 2019 season on Friday evening, headlining the Ohio Northern women's track and field team's efforts during the first day of the Findlay Alumni Classic & Elite Throws meet inside the Malcolm Athletic Center.

The reigning OAC Field Athlete of the Week cleared the bar at 3.57 meters (11' 8.5") to tie Findlay's Meadow Cromer and Wright State's Maria Heckman. However, the Chagrin Falls native would capture the title outright following the tiebreaker for her second crown in as many weeks.

Meanwhile, freshman Rue Whitmore (Mason) recorded the best individual finish on the track, claiming runner-up honors in the 5,000-meter run. The 18:35.18 clocking marked the top time for all NCAA Division III student-athletes in the event, too.

Sophomore Megan Wright (Eaton/Twin Valley South) also landed among the top-five in the discipline, finishing fifth with a career-best 18:58.31 effort.

Seniors Avery Ewing (Kokomo, Ind./Eastern) and Taylor Fisher (Wapakoneta), junior Madeleine Routhier (West Unity/Hilltop), and sophomore Chyanne Retcher (Ney/Fairview) concluded the action on the track with a second-place effort in the distance medley relay. Their 13:08.90 clocking marks the fastest time for the event this season for Ohio Northern.

In the high jump, senior Mallory Weininger (Upper Sandusky) ended in a four-way tie for fourth place. Her clearance at 1.53 meters (5' 0.25") marks a new season-best for the three-time letterwinner. 

Junior thrower Ashlynn Hickey (Wilmington) secured a fifth-place result in the shot put open class with an 11.00-meter (36' 1.25") mark. Meanwhile, senior Tia Harris (Newton Falls) competed in the elite shot put competition, having been among the top nine entrants in the event, and heaved the shot 12.84 meters (42' 1.5") to finish in sixth place.

The Findlay Alumni Classic & Elite Throws competition continues tomorrow morning inside the Malcolm Athletic Center. Action gets underway at 10 a.m. with the men's and women's long jump and the women's weight throw events.