Track continues record rampage

Oberlin's indoor track team turned into a demolition crew this winter. They continued to better their personal times and shatter indoor track records.

Oberlin hosted a meet last Friday attended by Case Western Reserve University, John Carrol University, Heidelberg College, Otterbein College and Cuyahoga Community College.

The women were the showcase in this meet. In the 800m relay, sophomore Emily Lane, first-year Elizabeth Chandler, junior Amie Ely, and sophomore Nicole James set both an Oberlin varsity record, and a Field House record.

Nicole James did not stop there. She set another record in the 400m with a time of 62.04. "For me, it was just a lowering of times," said James. James' mild demeanor is amazing considering her success with indoor track this season. She also had a first place finish in the 300m, crossing the finish line 43.81 seconds after the starting gun. Lane came in fourth in this event with a time of 46.53.

Senior Trista Thornberry would not let her younger teammates hog all the glory on Friday. In the 1000m, she ran a 3:10.24. Not too shabby just another varisty record for this trend setting bunch. Thornberry coupled her record with a second place finish in the 1500m. Sophomore Beth Spalding finished fourth in the same race.

Ely had an impressive showing as well. She placed second in the 55m hurdles with a time of 9.60. She earned fourth place in the 55m and the high jump. Sophomore Kate O'Brien tied Ely in the high jump, soaring to a height of 4'8".

The Yeowomen did well in the field events. First-year Mary Towey threw for third place in the shot put. She heaved the shot 33'5'.

The Yeowomen rounded their meet out with another first place finish in the 1600m realay, with the time of 4:22.99.

"It was a pretty good meet. Nothing unusual. I'm really happy with it. A lot of hard work payed off," said James.

The men did not do quite as well as the women, but still performed well overall. "The men performed very well," said senior Steve Jackson. Jackson lead the men, with a second place finish in the 55m, with a time of 6.74.

The team of Jackson, sophomore Sean Wesolowski, and juniors Dan Feldman and David Ellis placed third in the 800m relay. They clocked in at 1:34.46. Jackson said, "We had some terrible hand-offs."

Feldman also had some personal sucess. He finished fourth in the 1500m relay with a time of 51.95, which placed him second in the conference. "We had a lot of personal success," said Jackson.

Senior James Richter achieved third place in the 1000m race. He The recent success of the indoor track team as a whole can be attributed to the new practice methods. The team used to lift weights a few times a week, but now they hit the iron every day. "It helps with strength," said James.

Oberlin will take its record breaking squad on the road today in the Greater Cleveland College Meet at Baldwin-Wallace.

Up and over: Oberlin track and field bounded over the competition on Friday. The team placed well in all of the field events, and set several records. (photo by Ned Basbaum)