Smith, DMR claim titles for Men's Track & Field in opening day of OAC Championships

The Polar Bear men's track & field team are in third place with 30 points following the first day of the 2012 Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by Otterbein at the Clements Recreation & Fitness Center.

A mere four points separates ONU from first place, which is held by Baldwin-Wallace (34 points), while Mount Union sits second place with 32 points.

Wilmington and John Carroll rounds out the top 5 team places with 20 and 16 points, respectively.

The Polar Bears earned two titles and a runner up spot in three events.

Senior Dan Smith claimed the individual title in the 3,000 run in 8:38.04.

The distance medley relay squad of senior Cory Bailey, junior Ben Ankrom and sophomores Evan McKee and Mathew Johnson claimed the OAC title, finishing in 10:27.13.

Senior Joe Gutter took the runner up spot in the weight throw at 56-0.5.

Freshman Nathan Rosenbaum also scored points for the Polar Bears, finishing the 3,000 run in seventh at 8:59.10.

"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 day tomorrow."

Looking ahead to the final day of competition Saturday, several Polar Bears qualified for the finals in their respective events. Freshman James Rader qualified for the finals in the 500 dash with a 1:08.47 finish.

Senior All-American Jacob Schwab and freshman Chad Bridges both qualified for the finals in the 400. Schwab finished in 49.17 and Bridges clocked in at 51.26.

Sophomore All-American Francisque Pierre-Jerome moves on in the 60 dash (7.06) and 200 dash (22.81).

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.