Lynchburg, Roanoke Win ODAC Track Titles
Six ODAC Championship Records Broken
Complete Final Results
LEXINGTON, Va. --- Six championship records and three ODAC
overall marks fell on Saturday afternoon in Lexington at the 2009
ODAC Track and Field Championships as the Lynchburg College men and
the Roanoke College women stood atop the podium at day's end.
The Hornets steered clear of Bridgewater College by 100 points
(227-127) to cruise to its record 23rd ODAC outdoor
crown. The Maroons out-paced Washington and Lee University
(173.5-139) for its sixth women's title.
On the women's side, Roanoke's Jaleesa Osborne and Washington and
Lee's Elizabeth Webb shared Athlete of the Meet honors.
Osborne claimed victories in the 100-yard dash (12.18) and long
jump (18'9.75") while placing third in the triple jump
(34'9.75"). She also helped Roanoke to a win in the
4x100-meter relay. Osborne's win in the 100 dash was most
impressive as she beat teammate Robin Yerkes. Yerkes had set
a new ODAC and overall record in the event during the race's
preliminary heats, clocking a time of 12.12 seconds.
Webb won three events for the Generals and took home the 2009
ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete Award. The biochemistry
major now owns five top scholar awards after previously claiming
the honor outdoors in 2007 and 2008 and indoors in 2008 and
2009. Webb won the 800-meter (2:21.17), 1500-meter (4:46.77)
and 5000-meter runs (18:58.30) at this year's championships.
She also won the 800 and 1500 events in 2008.
The Generals also claimed a new record thanks to the stamina of
Becca Taylor. The senior standout hit the finish line with a
time of 11:22.19 to set a new ODAC championship and overall top
mark in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
Roanoke's Sarah Witt earned Rookie of the Year honors. She
claimed the titles in both the 100-meter hurdles (14.70) and the
400-meter hurdles (1:06.31). Her time in the 100 hurdles set
a new ODAC championship and overall record.
Maroons' head coach Finn Pincus was named the women's Coach of the
Year. Aside from Yerkes' record in 100 dash and Witt's
hurdles standard, Roanoke set new championship marks in the
200-yard dash (Yerkes - 24.81) and the 4x400-meter relay
(4:00.28).
On the men's side, Eastern Mennonite University newcomer Michael
Allen was named the Athlete of the Meet and the Rookie of the
Year. Allen won the long jump (23'10.0") and the triple jump
(48'8.75") while placing fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.17),
fifth in the 200-meter dash (22.62) and 10th in the high
jump (5'10").
Washington and Lee's Billy Billington took home the ODAC/Farm
Bureau Scholar-Athlete Award. The accounting major threw his
way to a pair of wins in the hammer (163'5") and shot put
(44'11.5") while placing second in the discus (138'3").
Lynchburg head coach Dr. Jack Toms took home the league's Coach of
the Year award. Lynchburg won seven total events (400 dash,
javelin, pole vault, 1500 and 5000 runs, 4x100 and 4x400 relays)
and had the depth of talent for multiple point winners in nearly
every event to allow the Hornets to run away from the field.
Bridgewater's Nathan Rittenhouse set the lone men's championship
record. His time of 9:51.99 set a new standard in the
3000-meter steeplechase.
For more information on the 2009 ODAC Track and Field
Championships, visit the championship website by clicking HERE.
You can also access that site and more about track and field by
visiting the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconilne.com.
