Madeline Hooker
Staff Writer
During their Indoor Track & Field season, members of both the men and women teams experienced many notable accomplishments.
On February 24, both teams traveled to Liberty University to compete in the Indoor ODAC Championships. ODAC, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference brought together the following colleges and universities: Roanoke, Washington and Lee, Lynchburg, Shenandoah, Bridgewater, Virginia Wesleyan, Eastern Mennonite, and Guilford. These Indoor Track & Field athletes participated in events that included hurdles, runs, jumps, and shot puts.
The men’s team came in 6th place overall at the Championships with a total of 44 points. In the 60 meter hurdle event, Edward Curtis ’13 came in 3rd, and Tucker Cunningham ’14 followed up in 4th place. For the men’s 4×400 meter relay event, Caleb Bledsoe ’15, Colton Linton ’12, Chase Board ’13, and Tucker Cunningham ’14 won 1st place.
Jed Curtis ’13, performed very well at ODAC.
“Curtis is a top athlete” said Finn Pincus, Head Coach. “He competed at a very high level.” Curtis placed 2nd in the men’s high jump and 3rd in the 60 meter hurdles.
Members of the women’s Indoor Track team had much to celebrate as they earned a total of 129 points.
“These ladies have stepped up to the challenge and it was very rewarding [for them] to win” Pincus said. “They did not just match the seasons best … they exceeded it,” he added.
In the women’s 60 meter dash event, Esther Prempeh ’15 came in 1st, while Hope Flomo ’15 followed in 2nd. Scholar athlete of the year, Sarah Witt ’12 took 1st place in the 60 meter hurdles. The women’s 4×400 meter relay team, made up of Witt, Flomo, Carmen Graves ’13, and Toni Duvall ’15 won 1st, with a total time of 4 minutes and 2 seconds. Gabe Giersch ’14 came in 1st in the high jump event while Elizabeth Bransky ’12 took 3rd in the women’s shot put.
The triple jump is traditionally a strong event for RC Indoor Track & Field athletes as Graves won 2nd place, Meagan Tolley ’13 took 3rd, and Brittany Cornett ’12 placed 4th. The ladies also achieved success in the weight throw event where Alisha McCrowey ’13 took 2nd, Samantha Clowser ’14 won 3rd, and Bransky placed 5th.
Graves, who experienced much success at the ODAC championships, traveled to Grinnel, Iowa to participate at Nationals. Accompanied by Assistant Coach, Carl Blickle, Graves ‘13 won 3rd place in the 800 meter dash.
“I enjoy competing at Nationals because it is really great competition” Graves ‘13 said. “It is definitely intimidating, but it is always a joy to compete at that level.”
Overall, members of the men and women’s Track & Field teams enjoyed a successful Indoor season.
