Freshman Hope Stanley wins javelin, leads Women's Track and Field on first day of OAC Outdoor Championships
By Tim Glon
BEREA — Freshman Hope Stanley (Geneva) won the Ohio Athletic Conference title in the javelin, bettering her career mark by nearly four meters, to lead the Ohio Northern women's outdoor track and field team on the first day of the 2021 OAC Championships meet on Thursday at Hoernemann Stadium.
The Polar Bears (28-12 overall) are in second place out of 10 teams with 64.33 points through seven events after the first day of competition.
Northern had nine student/athletes earn All-Conference accolades with top three finishes on Thursday.
"It was a great first day for us," ONU head coach Jason Maus said. "We could not have asked for any better. Having nine women earn All-Conference honors on the first day is amazing. We had personal records up and down our roster and have put ourselves in a great position heading in the second day tomorrow."
Stanley threw the javelin 35.72 meters to win the event, a full 3.80 meters further than her previous career best of 31.92 meters.
Sophomore Anna Schatzle (Brookville, Ind./Franklin County) and freshman Olivia Ogg (Hebron/Lakewood) finished second and third, respectively, in the pole vault by clearing 3.33 meters each
Junior Tessa Pitcovich (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) led a 2-4-6 Polar Bear finish in the 10,000-meter run, placing second in 37:51.70 to earn All-OAC honors.
Senior Kylie Vestal (Youngstown/Austintown Fitch) was second in the 3,000-meter steeplechacse in 11:20.87 to be named All-OAC.
The 4x800 relay team of sophomore Lexi Neff (Northfield/Walsh Jesuit), freshman Sydney Goodrich (Washington, Mich./Romeo), freshman J.J. Herron (Miamisburg) and junior Taylor Ellerbrock (Columbus Grove) earned All-Conference accolades by finishing second in 9:34.51.
Senior Kathleen Colvin (Hilliard/Bishop Ready) was fourth in the 10,000 in 37:51.70 and junior Rue Whitmore (Mason) was sixth in the 10,000 in 38:27.62.
Senior Megan Wright (Eaton/Twin Valley South) was fifth in the 3,000 steeplechase in 11:37.55.
Senior Stella DeWitt (Weston/Cardinal Stritch) and junior Kayla Silva (Westerville/South) were sixth and eighth in the long jump with jumps of 5.33 and 5,14 meters, respectively.
Sophomore Cienna Kuhn (Elida) tied for eighth in the pole vault by clearing 3.08 meters.
The final day of the Championships will get underway on Friday with field events at 11 am and running events at 3 pm.