TIFFIN, Ohio – After the opening day of competition at the Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, the Otterbein University track and field teams have already collected multiple All-OAC performances. The men currently sit third out of nine teams with 35.50 points, while the women stand fifth of nine with 24 points.
All-OAC recognition was awarded to the top three finishers in each event.
In the field events, junior Richmond Honkpo secured All-OAC recognition with a second-place leap of 7.25m in the long jump. Junior Joe Hill added a podium finish in the pole vault, clearing 4.40m to place third.
On the women's side, the distance medley relay team of Ava Stratmann, Kate Thormeier, Sienna Westbrooks and Ollie Smith earned All-OAC honors with a runner-up finish in 12:40.10.
Freshman Addy Westbrooks also reached the podium in the long jump, placing third with a personal-best mark of 5.35m. The jump improved upon her previous best of 4.93m and moves her onto the Otterbein all-time performance list.
Additional scoring performances continued to build momentum for the Cardinals.
Senior Payne Ratliff led the way in the 5,000m, placing fourth with a time of 15:20.64. Junior Brady Pugh followed in sixth, clocking a personal-best 15:22.55.
Sophomore Marquez Whitehead placed fourth in the 500m with a personal-best time of 1:06.23, moving into fourth on the program's all-time list.
Otterbein advanced three athletes to the finals in the 60m hurdles. Junior Izaac Swope qualified in 8.21, while freshman Jackson Steider clocked 8.533 to place third in prelims. Junior Cameron Smart secured the fifth qualifying spot in 8.538, a personal best that moves him into 10th on the program's all-time list.
In the long jump, sophomore Jaret Harting added a fourth-place finish with a mark of 7.00m.
On the women's side, senior Charlie Dolliver advanced to the finals in the 60m hurdles after placing second in prelims with a personal-best 9.26. Dolliver later added a fifth-place finish in the long jump (5.28m, PR), also moving onto the program's all-time list.
Junior Abby Kobs recorded a personal best in the 5,000m (18:56.86) to finish seventh, while sophomore Anastasia Smith placed fifth in the weight throw with a personal-best mark of 15.87m.
Competition resumes Saturday as the Cardinals look to climb the team standings and add to their All-OAC totals.
