February 7, 2013
By: Bryson Hartzler, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University Beavers will be competing in the All-Ohio Championships this weekend on the campus of Otterbein University. The All-Ohio Championships is a qualifiers-only meet open to all 22 Division III programs in Ohio. The top 16 individual performances and 12 relays produced throughout the season will be competing head-to-head this weekend on the same track. Bluffton will be sending three individuals and two relays to the meet to compete for the honor of the best in Ohio.
Senior ALISON JANZEN (Whitewater, Kan./Remington) has transitioned seamlessly from her success in the cross country season to the indoor track and field season. Janzen will be competing in the 5000 meters, a race in which she set the school record a few weeks ago at Findlay. She has also had very strong performances in the 1000 meters and 3000 meters in preparation to run her best times in the following weeks. Janzen comes into the meet seeded 10th, just 10 seconds outside the top five.
Freshman COLIN MCCLOSKEY (Sylvania/Northview) has had similar success to Janzen, coming off a very strong cross country campaign right into the indoor season. McCloskey, who seems to have an aptitude for performing at his best when the pressure is the highest, ran his bests races of the cross country season at the All-Ohio championships and the NCAA regional meet. McCloskey will be coming down from the 8k cross distance to the 3k on the track. McCloskey, who is looking to improve on his school record, is seeded as the 15th fastest runner in the state and is one of only two freshmen to make it to the championship meet. McCloskey will also be leading off the men's Distance Medley Relay.
Fellow freshman KENDALL WEBER (Wauseon) has exploded on to the scene during her freshman campaign taking down two school records in just a few short weeks. Weber will be the only athlete for the Beavers competing in two individual events. Weber is seeded 10th in the 60 meter hurdles, just a few tenths of a second between her and the top runners in the state. Weber will follow her hurdle performance with an appearance in the long jump as well. She is seeded with a performance of 16'6", good enough for the 15th best performance in the state.
The Beavers will also be sending a pair of Distance Medley Relays to the championship meet. Returning from last year's foursome who finished 6th are the 400 meter and 1600 meter legs of KAYLA MULLENHOUR (Delphos/Jefferson) and MADDIE MOORE (Linn Grove, Ind./South Adams) with freshman DEMI SNIDER (Kenton) and NICHOLE PETERMAN (Killbuck/West Holmes) filling in the 800 meter and 1200 meter legs. The men's team, consisting of all underclassmen, includes McCloskey, JOSH MATTOON (Rawson/Cory-Rawson), JOSHUA EDENS (Westerville/Central) and ZACHARY SMITH (West Unity/Hilltop). The men are looking to set a precedent for years to come.
The meet in Westerville, Ohio, is set to start at 11 a.m. with women's Distance Medley Relay.
-BEAVERS-