Tigers set records at Otterbein Invitational

Two meets in and school records continue to fall for Georgetown College indoor track and field athletes.

"It's been an exciting start to the season and the improvements we are making and seeing here are going to translate well in the spring outdoor season," said GC coach Lucas Garnett.

Emma Bianchi hit the NAIA national qualifying B standard a week ago in Indianapolis, but the junior just keeps plugging away clearing four heights on four jumps and winning with a mark of 1.61. Five NCAA Division II and III competitors were her closest competition with Cedarville's Lauren Willow needing a second jump at 1.58 to even try 1.61 with Bianchi. She failed on all three attempts at that height.

There are no team scores out of the Otterbein Invitational, however, lots of points would have been racked up by the Tiger women.

Sarah Bolton and Myah Menfee displayed speed and precision in the hurdles. Bolton beat Menfee's 60-meter hurdle school record in the prelims, but Menfee edged her teammate by the narrowest of margins – 0.008 – in the finals to take fourth and the school record back.

Libby Miller, who set records in her first meet in Indianapolis, continues to shine in the sprints with a seventh place finish in the 60-meter Saturday.

Rosey Jones takes the second best spot by a Georgetown female athlete in the 200-meter with a sixth place finish. Sydney Jones still holds the record for the women, but with Jones just a freshman the future looks bright.

Bolton's day was not done with the hurdles. The track and field competitor took to the long jump and finished third, but second among college attached participants. Sydney Jones again holds GC's best mark for indoor in this event, but Bolton is closing in on it.

Miller, Rosey Jones and Bolton teamed up with Charity Stoltz to set a new school record and finish second in the 4x200-meter relay. Anna Wells set a school record in the 3000-meter, while Kate Reese set one in the 500-meters.

The throws portion of the competition was also a bright spot for the women Saturday. Jaycey Kendall, Alli Draughn and Kylee Draughn picked up a bunch of points, had personal records and edged closer to best marks in Georgetown history.

Kendell finished fourth (second best mark for a female Tiger) in the weight and ninth in the shot put. Alli Draughn was sixth (fourth best at GC) in the weight and seventh in the shot. Kylee Draughn finished eighth in the weight throw (which stands as the fifth best mark at Georgetown).

The men set a record in the 4x200 relay with their second place finish. Austin Hamlett, Justin Tavner, Brian Raybourne and Derrik Deidesheimer finished in 1:39.5.

Deidesheminer was eighth in the 60-meter hurdles, while Hamlett was seventh in the 400-meters. Jaxson Downs took ninth in the 1000-meters.

Raybourne and Alex Clawson finished well in the long jump competition with sixth and ninth place finishes respectively. Gary Lukens had another strong showing, finishing third but first among college participants, in the weight. Mitchell Paycheck, fifth, and Ben Jackson, eighth, also did well in the weight throw.

Jackson finished fourth, second among attached athletes, while Ross Whipple was fifth in the shot put.

Saturday it is back to Indianapolis in the Greyhound Invitational.