By Tim Stried
February 3, 2003
They're still in "spring-training" mode, but already the Bluffton College men's and women's indoor track and field teams are off to the best start in school history.
Last Friday night Bluffton won six events and established seven new school indoor records as the Beavers took third place on both the men's and women's side at Ohio Northern University.
And all from a squad that wasn't at full strength.
"We're just training through the winter and using the indoor schedule to prepare us for the outdoor season," said second-year head coach Derek Stanley, who noted that although there are six events on the indoor schedule, he only requires his entire squad to compete at two. Those two events take place in the next three weeks, which are Feb. 8 at Anderson and Feb. 21 at Ohio Northern.
Stanley has quickly taken the Bluffton indoor track program forward in giant steps, as his 24 men and 20 women make up the largest indoor squad in school history.
"I'm pleased for right now with having at least 20 individuals on each team," said Stanley. "Our depth in the sprinting events is good, as well as in many field events. The indoor season is mainly just used for training, but we're doing pretty good compared to where we were last year at this time."
According to Stanley, the meet this Saturday at Anderson will be a great test for Bluffton.
"Most of the conference schools will be there [Feb. 8 at Anderson]" said Stanley, "We'll be looking to go in there and make some waves and run well under the competition of the conference."
Of the seven school records that were set last Friday at ONU, six were by individuals two were by the men's and women's distance medley squads. And of those six individuals, four were freshmen and two were sophomores.
On the women's side, freshman Rita Muether set two records, one coming in the 55 meters (7.93 seconds, 2nd place overall) and the other in the 300 meters (43.95, 1st). Freshman Stephanie Welch broke the 500 meters indoor record with a 1:28.59 finish (3rd overall) and won the high jump with a 4-9 leap. Freshman Kirstie Dravenstott established a new record in the triple jump with a total distance of 28-11 as she became the first woman in BC history to compete in that event and placed fifth overall.
Sophomore Michelle Bailey won the weight throw competition and the quartet of Welch, Lauren Borga, Dravenstott and Jennifer Creamer won the distance medley. Six other BC women placed in their respective events, including sophomore Amanda Habegger who placed in three events.
On the men's side, sophomore Clint Dillon broke his own school indoor pole vault record with a height of 14-6 to earn a first place finish. Freshman Al Pearson set a new BC record in the 300 meters with a third place finish of 37.95, and freshman Dan Rosebrock's 2:41.80 effort in the 1000 meters was also a school record as he placed second. In addition, the quartet of Rosebrock, Floyd Ward, Andy Schiefer and Steve Borga won the distance medley as they finished 42 seconds faster than second-place Wilberforce. Eight other men placed in their respective events for BC.
-BEAVERS-