The John Carroll Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field teams head to Marietta, Ohio, on Friday and Saturday to compete in the 2016 Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.
The Blue Streaks have broken over ten school records this indoor season - which bodes well for the athletes competing this weekend.
Official Website of the 2016 OAC Indoor Track & Field ChampionshipsLive Results the 2016 OAC Indoor Track & Field ChampionshipsThe men's team hopes to maintain the same momentum that landed them in second place at the championships last year. Top performers to watch on the men's side include
Matt Andrews and
Will Cameron.
Andrews has shown continuous improvement this season, setting the 1-mile (4:17.01) and 3000-meter (8:29.53) school records. Cameron recently broke the men's indoor 800 meter record (1:54.42). He will compete in the 500, distance medley, and 4 x 400 this weekend.
With a school record and personal best of 14:58.75,
Patrick O'Brien will also be an important asset in the 5000-meter race. He placed second last year behind Alex Wilson from Mount Union.
JCU also expects to get contributions from the likes of
Michael Hydzik (800 meter run and relays),
Jonathon Radney (55 and 200 meter dash),
Frankie Caponi (55 hurdles),
Adam North (long and triple jump),
Nick Woods (long jump and 400 dash),
Cole Weirich (55 meter dash),
Andrew Snyder (5000 meter run) and
Ryan Scanlon (800 meter run and 1-mile run)
The women's squad also has some promising performances ahead. The ladies hope to improve from a 6th place finish last year.
Senior Emily Jenkins has broken, and re-broken, her school records several times throughout her time at JCU, clocking in at 7.90 in the 60m dash
Junior
Schasia Modrzynski will be a valuable contender in both the 3000 meter run on Friday and 5000 meter run on Saturday. Modrzysnki currently holds school records in both, clocking in at 10:16.46 and 17:53.29, respectively.
Other athletes to watch include sophomores
Erin Kiley and Jessica Swisher. Kiley had an impressive 5000 performance earlier this season at the SPIRE Midwest Open, clocking in at 18:06.31. Swisher hopes to improve upon her fifth place finish last year in the 500 meter dash. She will also be valuable in the pole-vault event, with a personal best of 3.12 meters.
Sara Martinko (55 hurdles),
Alainna Schmidt (800 meter run),
Alyssa Biedron (500 meter dash),
Noelle Saluan (400 meter dash),
Ashura Powell (200 and 400 meter dash),
Joy Nyaanga (500 meter dash),
Hanna Sterle (3000 and 5000 meter run) and
Becky Rohwer (800 meter run and 1 mile run) are among the hopefuls looking to make an impact both as individuals and on relays for the Blue Streaks this weekend.
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