February 9, 2013
By: Bryson Hartzler, sports information assistant

WESTERVILLE, Ohio - The Bluffton University track and field team competed in the Division III All-Ohio indoor championships this weekend on the campus of Otterbein University. 22 Division III schools from across Ohio competed at the same venue for the opportunity to be considered the best in Ohio. Several strong performances came from the Beavers as they went toe to toe with the best around.

Freshman KENDALL WEBER (Wauseon) highlighted the afternoon with a fifth place finish in the 60m hurdles. Weber entered the day seeded 10th in the hurdles and passed through to the finals, running 9.68. She then improved on her time in the finals, dropping down to 9.63 to finish 5th (3rd among freshmen). Weber had a very solid performance in the long jump earlier in the afternoon as well. Weber soared to 16-5.75" on her first attempt, a distance just shy of her school record. She finished the day in 11th place, five spots higher than her seed.

Senior ALISON JANZEN (Whitewater, Kan./Remington) also had a tremendous performance in the 5000m, improving on her own school record. Janzen would average a 6 minute/mile pace to finish in 18:46.37. Alison shaved 18 seconds off her previous best from just two weeks ago. Her record-setting performance placed her 7th overall in a fast heat. Janzen entered the meet seeded 10th at 19:04.40.

The men's DMR relay consisting of COLIN MCCLOSKEY (Sylvania/Northview), JOSH MATTOON (Rawson/Cory-Rawson), MARTIN RUSS (Rocky River) and ZACHARY SMITH(West Unity/Hilltop) ran 10:54.55 to take 9th place. The relay team had a minor overhaul with the 800m leg as JOSHUA EDENS (Westerville/Central) was forced to sit out this week due to injury. Despite the substitution, the team finished just shy of the season best.

Head Coach Karen Brandt was quite pleased with the individual performances from Kendall and Alison. "I am thrilled with the performances of Kendall and Alison. They stand on opposite ends of the spectrum, as a freshman and a senior respectively; a 60 meter versus a 5000m distance; yet both positioning themselves among the best in the state with their 5th and 7th place finishes. Kendall speaks to the future of the program; Alison to what can be accomplished with patience, perseverance and tenacity."

The Beavers will be looking forward to the HCAC indoor conference championships at Defiance College next Saturday, Feb. 16.

-BEAVERS-