By Molly Burnell, sports information assistant
May 1, 2006

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Bluffton men's and women's track and field teams competed at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships in Defiance on April 29, 2006.  The women finished third out of six teams, while the men placed sixth of seven.

Senior RITA MUETHER (Celina/Celina) had a huge day for the Beavers as she set two new Bluffton records in the 200 meters and the 400 meters. Muether won the 400 with a time of 59.07 seconds and placed second in the 200 (25.80 seconds). She was also a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams which both placed third. The 4x100 team consisted of Muether, JENNIFER LEHMAN (Berne, Ind./South Adams), ASHLEY SMITH (Delta/Delta) and CHANTEL MANGRUM (Jackson, Tenn./Jackson Christian). Muether, Mangrum, Smith and KIRSTIE DRAVENSTOTT (Smithville/Smithville) were all members of the 4x400 relay team. Freshman KARYN DAVIS (Liberty Center/Liberty Center) took home first place in the shot put competition with a throw of 36 feet, 2.25 inches. The women had an outstanding showing at the conference championships as nearly every member of the team scored points in the meet.   

The Bluffton men claimed first and second place in the 400 meter dash as senior COLBY BRIGHT (Galion/Galion) won the event in a photo finish with junior SHANDON NORTH(Galion/Galion). Bright finished the 400 meters with a time of 49.14 seconds while North was only nine hundredths of a second behind. Bright and North, along with JOHNNY ICHRIST(Toledo/Whitmer) and DAN ROSEBROCK (Napoleon/Napoleon) were members of the 4x400 relay team which placed second. Senior Dan Rosebrock took second place in the 800 meter run (1:58.56) while sophomore REX BROWN (Wauseon/Pettisville) placed third in the javelin throw (169-01) and took home fourth place in the discus (130-07). 

-BEAVERS-