Men's Track Finishes as National Runner-Up
The University of Findlay men and women's indoor track and field teams sent 16 athletes to the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship in Birmingham, Alabama. The men's team finished as the national runner-up with 40 points, their highest finish ever, while the women took 16th with 14 points.
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Freshman of the Year Michael Bruce capped his first trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship with another stellar performance. The first year Oiler earned his second All-American award in as many days as he finished in fourth place in the triple jump with a distance of 49'08.5". Bruce's first award came yesterday as he took fourth in the long jump.
Sophomore Alexander Zolotoglavyy also competed in the triple jump and took 13th place with a distance of 46'10.00".
Senior Taylor Miller competed in his second indoor national championship meet and earned his second All-American honor by finishing as the runner-up in the shot put. Miller's third and fourth throws of the meet measured 57'03.00".
Also earning All-American status in the event was senior Mathieu Marcoccia. He finished in sixth place with a throw of 56'3.25", earning his first NCAA Division II All-American honor.
The final All-American in the event was senior Justin Welch, who just yesterday took home his second consecutive national championship in the weight throw. Welch's throw of 55'05.5" ended his indoor career and put his fifth All-American award on the shelf with the outdoor season still looming.
Sophomore Ben Hahler and senior Brian Jennings each competed in the event as well and took 12th (53'10.50") and 14th (53'02.75"), respectively.
Senior Dillon Webster, who placed seventh in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:52.20m also earned All-American honors for the Oilers. He earned his second All-American award during the championship event when he teamed with sophomores Derek Collins, Sergi Torres and Maliik Briggs to take third in the 4x400 meter relay after crossing the finish line in 3:14.07.
Competing in her third straight NCAA Championship meet was senior Kendra Averesch who added to an already stellar career with her third All-American award in the indoor shot put. Averesch took fifth place in the event with a throw of 49'02.25".
Another athlete competing in her third consecutive D-II Championship meet was senior Pam Showman, who competed in the pentathlon and entered with a 13-seed. Showman was a national qualifier in the event in 2013 and in 2014, but was finally able to capture All-American honors by finishing sixth in the event this season. She ended her performance having totaled 3,840 points which breaks her own record at the University of Findlay. Her best finishes came in the 60m hurdles, high jump and shot put as she finished seventh in each of those events.
Junior Lydia Guagenti competed in her second consecutive NCAA Championship in the high jump and after finishing outside of the top eight last year, had a phenomenal showing in today's events. Guagenti cleared a height of 5'9.25" on her first attempt, soaring into the Findlay record book and earning All-American as the runner-up in the event. That height broke her old school record, set earlier this season, by .75".