Oberlin College Athletics

MEN’S SEASON OUTLOOK

Earning a fifth-place finish at the NCAC Indoor Championships in 2008, the Oberlin College men’s track and field team has all the ingredients in place to move into the top tier of the conference.

Senior leaders Ryan King and Conor Doss guide a talented group of runners into the season. Both athletes have steadily improved throughout their respective careers and are on the brink of having successful senior seasons. Last year, King checked in with a school-record time of 4:21.75 to finish fourth in the mile and continued to fl ourish during the outdoor season. Doss, who ended in fifth in the 5,000-meter run (15:36.11), is one of the premier distance runners in
the conference.

Helping strengthen the distance the unit is junior Don Flemming and sophomore Justin Warner. First-years Ben Schild (Arizona) and Stephen Williams (Tennessee) should also make an immediate impact as they were each state champions in cross country in 2007.

Junior Seth Wimberly highlights an impressive group of sprinters who can compete with any unit in the conference. The Covington, Georgia, native had a strong outdoor season and will look to continue that success inside in the 400, 200, 4x400 and 4x200. He helped the Yeomen claim their best outdoor finish in school history by scoring in the 400-meter dash.

Sophomore Soloman Turner battled through injuries during last indoor season, but recovered to score at the outdoor meet, finishing fifth in the 100-meter dash. Sophomore Peter Morris will also contribute to the 400-meter relays, while fellow second-year runner Derrick Dennis will be a factor in the 55-meter dash.

In the field events, sophomore Josh Gallagher is the team’s main thrower. In his rookie campaign, Gallagher already
found his name atop the school record book by tossing the weight 39-03.25. Football star A.J. Greene hopes to translate his successful 2008 outdoor season inside to help improve the Oberlin throwers.

Senior Kyle Taljan, who set the school record in the men’s decathlon with 5,732 points, is the Yeomen’s top returning
jumper. First-year Sean Curtis will also have an opportunity to shine right away.

The indoor season will get underway on December 12 at the Kent State Invitational.

WOMEN’S SEASON OUTLOOK

After another impressive indoor season, which ended with a third-place finish at the North Coast Conference Championship meet, the Oberlin College women’s track and field team is set to continue as a perennial contender in the league.

Dynamic distance runner Joanna Johnson is one of the elite runners in the region and is poised to build off her astonishing rookie season. After claiming the conference crown in cross country, the Chico, California, native continued her dominance indoors by winning the league title in the 5,000-meter run (18:14.99) and finishing in second in the 3,000-meter event (10:35.14), less than one second behind former teammate Marie Barnett. Johnson, who was also a three-time NCAC Runner of the Week (two indoors, one outdoor), is the team’s top candidate to make a trip to nationals.

Joining Johnson to complete one of the best distance duos in the conference is senior Nicky Ouellet. After taking last year
off to study abroad, the former school record holder in the mile will be a major factor in distance events. At the 2006-07 Indoor Championships she finished third in the mile (5:12.31) and placed fourth in the 800-meter run (2:21.24). She is currently the school record holder in the 1,000-meter run (3:02.68) and is a part of the record-setting distance medley relay team (12:06.71).

Sophomore Hillary Tipton and junior Clara Shaw are also looking to further the success they had outdoors last season and will compete for conference supremacy in the middle distance events. First-years Nina Cole, Christine Moore and Jill
Custodio will also see action in events ranging from the 800 to 3,000 meters.

Junior Madeline Schultz is team’s most well rounded athlete has the ability to do even bigger things after a breakout season a year ago. Contributing as a sprinter and a jumper, Schultz is a tremendous long sprinter and is as part of the school’s record setting 4x400 meter relay team (4:07.28).

Senior Ali Gemma, who has been a consistent sprinter throughout her career, has the potential for a great season.
Sophomores Amanda Miller and Amelia Fortunato will also provide depth in the dashes.

Sophomore Laura Vernon is another diverse athlete that will contribute heavily on relays and in the pole vault. The Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, native cleared 9-06 to finish third at the NCAC Indoor Championships last year. Coming back after year abroad, Kirsten Hansen-Day bolsters the pole-vaulting unit. The senior won the outdoor conference championship in 2007 with a mark of 9-09.75.

Junior Tammela Platt and sophomore Melissa DeLombaert had strong finishes towards the end of last year and are counted on to be the team’s main jumpers.

The Yeowomen will begin their season on December 12 at the Kent State Invitational.