Women's Final Results Men's Final Results
The Malone University women's track & field team captured its third straight team title and sixth in the last eight years at the American Mideast Conference Championships at Cedarville University Friday and Saturday while the Pioneer men finished as runners-up. The Malone men were unable to defend their crown from last year as host Cedarville took the men's championship. In addition, Malone head coach Mark McClure was named the AMC Women's Coach of the Year while Cedarville coach Jeff Bolender earned the Men's Coach of the Year honor.
Among an eight-team field, the Malone women racked up 224.50 points for their AMC title while Cedarville placed second with 187 points. Walsh University finished third at 142.50, Ursuline College came in fourth at 127 and Notre Dame (OH) College rounded out the top five with 60 points.
On the men's side, Cedarville pocketed the team championship, among a seven-team field, with 299.50 points as Malone finished second with 207.50 points. Notre Dame placed third at 152, Walsh was fourth at 119.50 and Houghton (NY) College rounded out the top five with 24 points.
Four Pioneer women's student-athletes posted individual event titles along with the women's 4x800-meter relay team also collecting an event victory. The Malone men tallied five individual event wins. In addition, numerous Pioneer athletes on both sides garnered “top three” finishes in an event.
Lori Gale was named the women's Outstanding Field Performer of the meet for her efforts in four total events which included a victory in the javelin (132'4"), a second-place finish in the discus (118'11”), a third-place effort in the high jump (5'1”) and an eighth-place finish in the long jump (15'9.50”).
Other event winners for the women's team included
Tynae Wilson in the 10,000 meters (38:26.47),
Lindsey Pifher in the 3000-meter steeplechase (11:17.84; NAIA auto qualifier),
Allison Black in the 5000-meter race walk (34:11.79) and the 4x800-meter relay team of
Ashton Avery,
Kayleigh Bildstein,
Becky Neitzel and
Jessica Winkler in a time of 9:23.78 (NAIA auto qualifier). Each of these individuals (including Gale for her win in the javelin) was named All-AMC First Team by virtue of a first-place finish.
Event champions for the men included
Jason Rook in the pole vault (15'5”; NAIA B standard),
Caleb Celuch in the javelin (158'7”),
Steven Young in the triple jump (43'8.50”),
Nick Meeson in the 10,000 meters (32:15.31) and
James Zeuch in the 3000-meter steeplechase (9:16.11; NAIA auto qualifier). Again, each of these individuals was named All-AMC First Team by virtue of a first-place finish.
Second-place finishers for the Malone women (and All-AMC Second Team recipients) included
Katie King in the pole vault (10'6”),
Beth Costello in the long jump (17'8.75”),
Molly Hanzie in the javelin (121'7”),
Gabrielle Wuensch in the 10,000 meters (38:34.65),
Paige Nagy in the 5000-meter race walk (35:58.64),
Erin Bauer in the 1500 meters (4:50.04), Bildstein in the 800 meters (2:22.74),
Hannah Hartzler in the 5000 meters (18:20.27) and Gale in the above-mentioned finish in the discus.
Second-place finishers for the Pioneer men (and All-AMC Second Team recipients) included
Johnnie Legrair in the long jump (21'8.75”) and in the 200 meter dash (22.17),
Anthony Lombardi in the high jump (6'5”), Celuch in the triple jump (43'1.75”),
Evan Gaynor in the 10,000 meters (32:15.58),
Mitch Williams in the 3000-meter steeplechase and
Phillip Palmer in the 400-meter hurdles (56.37).
Third-place finishers for the women included
Tina Oprean in the 1500 meters (4:52.96) and in the 5000 meters (18:50.48),
Laura Page in the pole vault (10'0”),
Erin Milano in the 5000-meter race walk (36:53.34),
Caitlin Sharp in the 3000-meter steeplechase (11:53.38) and Gale in the above-mentioned finish in the high jump.
Third-place finishers for the men included
Kyle Wagner in the triple jump (42'5.25”),
Bobby Latta in the 5000-meter race walk (26:56.26) and Zeuch in the 1500 meters (4:01.16).
In addition,
Lepear Smith and Legrair posted NAIA B standard qualifying marks in the 110-meter hurdle preliminaries with times of 14.87 and 14.97, respectively.
The Malone teams will next compete in the Hillsdale Relays, hosted by Hillsdale (MI) College, Thursday through Saturday (April 21-23).
