Friday, February 26, 2010
YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State track and field teams will compete in the Horizon League indoor championships this weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The YSU men are looking for big things from freshmen Michael Davis and Tarelle Irwin.
Davis ranks second in school history in the 55-meter dash and ninth in the 60. He has the fastest 60 time and the fifth-best time in the 200 in the Horizon League this season.
Irwin is third in YSU history in the 55, ninth in the 200 and 10th in the 60. In the Horizon League he is ranked second in the 60 and fourth in the 200.
The Penguins expect to score points in the throwing events, led by senior Aaron Merrill. Merrill broke his own school record this season in the shot put and holds the top mark in the league. He also ranks second in the Horizon in the weight throw.
Freshmen John Seaver, Bobby Grace and Caleb Schwann should also be among the favorites in the throwing events.
For the women freshman Symona Gregory has the top time for the Penguins in the 60 and junior Breanne Romeo ranks fourth in the league in the 400.
The Penguins should also contend in the distance events. Senior Lauren Blase has set three school records this season (mile, 3,000 and 5,000). Blase’s time in the 5,000 is the second-best in the league while her 3,000 time ranks third and her mile time ranks fourth.
Another freshman, Samantha Hamilton will look to carry a record-breaking performance in the 1,000 last week. Hamilton has the fifth-best time in the 3,000 in the league and ranks sixth in the 5,000.
Senior Robyn Ray will lead YSU jumpers. She holds top-10 school distances in both the triple jump and the high jump. Ray holds the league’s second-best high jump mark and is fifth in the triple jump.
Among the throwers, sophomore Kaitlyn Griffith and freshman Alison Roth rank third and fourth in the league in the shot put. Junior Marissa Opper has the season-best mark for the Penguins in the weight throw and the third-best league mark.
Day one of the event will begin at 9 a.m. with pentathlon and conclude with the distance medley relay at approximately 6:15 p.m. The second day will start at 9 a.m. with heptathlon events and will conclude with the 4x400 relay finals.