Junior Emily Richards sets school record in 1,000-meter run; leads Women's Track & Field at OAC North Split Meet

By Caleb Scott

ADA — Junior Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) shattered the 1,000-meter run record by seven seconds as she led the Ohio Northern women's track & field team to a second place finish at the Ohio Athletic Conference North Split Meet at the ONU Sports Center.

Richards won the event in 2:52.42, which broke the previous ONU school record and ONU Sports Center facility record.

Senior Allie Gast (Grandville, Mich.) was victorious in the 60-meter hurdles, winning in :9.26 seconds.

In the long jump senior Kelsey Commager (Maumee) finished first with a leap of 17' 4", while senior Rebecca Carman (Bellefontaine) finished third with a jump of 16' 9.75".

Commager and Carman also finished first and second in the triple jump as Commager won the event with a jump of 35' 11.5" and Carman finished second with a leap of 33' 8"

Northern took first and second place in the pole vault as sophomore Maddy Reed (Lucasville/Piketon) won the event with a jump of 12' 3.5", while junior Kelly Wollenslegel (Clyde) finished second, clearing 10' 6". 

In the women's high jump, junior Mallory Weininger (Upper Sandusky) took third place with a jump of 5' 1".

Sophomore Ashlie Baumann (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) would take second place in the 3,000-meter run in 10:54.46.

In the weight throw, senior Rebecca Olashuk (Defiance / Tinora) finished third with a toss of 45' 7.25".

In the 800-meter run, sophomore Michaela Fox (Bellevue) finished third in 2:35.63.

Sophomore Kristina Myers (Orient/Central Crossing) posted a third place finish in the 5,000-meter run in 19:32.70.

In the 4x400-meter relay, the team of senior Meagan Ellinger (Bath, Ind./Union County), sophomores Sydney McCluer (Columbus Grove) and Taylor Fisher (Wapakoneta) and freshman Taylor Lavey (Findlay) finished third in 4:19.67.

"This was a very good opener for us," said head coach Jason Maus. "It was a good chance to really see where we are and where we need to improve as a team. This was a good measuring stick for us and it was nice to get off to this kind of start this season."

The Polar Bears will return to the track Jan. 28 as they travel to and compete at the Grand Valley State (Mich.) Invitational.

Team Results

1. Mount Union 194, 2. Ohio Northern 153.5, 3. Baldwin Wallace 93.5, 4. John Carroll 87, 5. Heidelberg 50