RESULTS
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Oakland women's track and field team finished runner-up at the 2020 Horizon League Championships, while the men's squad finished third Sunday from the Watson & Tressel Training Center.
It marked the third-straight season the women's squad has finished runner-up, and the fourth time in the last five seasons Oakland has finished in the top two.
Alfreeda Goff Indoor Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year and Men's Championship Outstanding Performer in Fielding,
Zach Stadnika, defended his title in the Heptathlon for the third year in a row by setting a League record score of 5,387 points.
The Oakland men had a day in the high jump with three finishers within the top five.
Alex Hugh-Plott led the way as the Horizon League champion (2.07m), while Stadnika placed fourth (2.01m), and
Chase VanSickle finished fifth (1.98m). On the women's side,
Hannah Hall led the way for the Golden Grizzlies with a third place finish (1.64m).
In the women's shot put, the freshmen stepped up in their championships debut. Lauren Christian led the way for the Golden Grizzlies with a toss of 13.02 meters, good for third place. Mikayla Wise finished fourth (12.75m), while Jamia Elam rounded out the top-10 finishes with a throw of 11.27 meters.
In the 60 meter hurdles, Oakland had three tally points led by
Alana Morrow (fourth place, 8.84),
Hannah Coverdill (fifth, 9.02) and
Emily Schaub (seventh, 9.14). On the men's side Stadnika placed fourth with a time of 8.13 and
Marcus Nellum crossed the finish line in 8.32, good for sixth place.
Senior
Chanel Gardner finished in 55.56 to take the women's 400m dash title for the third consecutive year, while
Jimmie Williams had his second-straight title in the men's 400 meter dash with a finish of 47.31. Sophomore
Megan Nichols ran 9:51.64 to be named the women's 3,000 meter champion.
Maggie Schneider finished third, crossing the line in 9:54.98.
To close out the meet, the women's 4x400 team of
Hannah Coverdill, Robin Lefevere,
Briana Walker and
Chanel Gardner broke the school record in a come from behind win, crossing the finish line in 3:50.49, nearly two seconds faster than the previous school record.
The men also earned their way to the top spot in the 4x400, with
Junias Holmes,
Malcolm McIntyre, Justin Kudera and
Jimmie Williams finishing the race in 3:16.92.
CHAMPIONSHIP AWARD WINNERS
Alfreeda Goff Women's Athlete of the Year: Ashley Melvin, Milwaukee and Jaliyah Elliott, Youngstown State
Alfreeda Goff Men's Athlete of the Year: Zach Stadnika, Oakland
Women's Championship Outstanding Performer, Running: Katlyn Murphy, IUPUI
Men's Championship Outstanding Performer, Running: Eric Hoffman, IUPUI
Women's Championship Outstanding Performer, Fielding: Kyra Arendt, Milwaukee
Men's Championship Outstanding Performer, Fielding: Zach Stadnika, Oakland
Women's Freshman of the Year, Running: Jahniya Bowers, Youngstown State
Men's Freshman of the Year, Running: Dakari Carter, Youngstown State
Women's Freshman of the Year, Fielding: Alivia Bentley, Youngstown State
Men's Freshman of the Year, Fielding: Austin Wallace, Milwaukee
Women's Coach of the Year: Brian Gorby, Youngstown State
Men's Coach of the Year: Brian Gorby, Youngstown State
Women's Rankings
1) Youngstown St. 183
2) Oakland 150
3) Milwaukee 123
4) IUPUI 49
5) Detroit Mercy 42.5
6) Northern Kentucky 39
7) Cleveland St. 34.5
8) Illinois-Chicago 30
9) Wright State 12
Men's Rankings
1) Youngstown St. 214
2) Milwaukee 154
3) Oakland 129
4) IUPUI 72
5) Detroit Mercy 50
6) Illinois-Chicago 31
7) Northern Kentucky 10
