FOREST, Va. --- Many of the conference's member school campuses may be under a wet blanket of snow, but that won't keep the winter season from fully jumping into gear with ODAC indoor track & field teams set to return to action. Most conference teams opened their slates prior to the flip of the calendar with a couple of meets the first weekend of December, but the annual holiday break comes to an end this weekend with a series of meets to kickoff the 2017 campaign.
For the past three years, Eagles have reigned over the rest of the conference's indoor track teams with Bridgewater College donning championship crowns. But that was the only success BC saw in 2015-16 as Amber Celen and Kristen Trice joined three other women's competitors in the NCAA Division III Championships. Celen was one of four ODAC standouts to earn All-American honors, earning her honor in the 200-meter dash in which she set a new ODAC record time (0:24.86) in the preliminaries.
Current Virgnia Wesleyan College star Marissa Coombs was joined by recent Eastern Mennonite University graduate Hannah Chappell-Dick in earning All-America accolades in the mile run. Coombs became the first Marlin to earn highest honors with a personal-best time of 4:56.45.
Washington and Lee University's Dana Lee also scratched off a Generals' first, albeit in becoming the first multi-indoor All-American in program history. Lee finished eighth in the long jump at 5.50 meters (18' 0.5") to secure her honor, which joined the one she captured in 2014-15. She'll make a leap towards three indoor awards this winter as she along with many other ODAC competitors have their eyes set on qualifying for competition at the Res Rec Center on the campus of North Central College in Naperville, Ill., on March 10-11.
Before any thoughts of national competition come to mind, ODAC teams will gear up for the conference championships. The annual conference affair will be hosted by Roanoke College in the brand new Cregger Center. The Maroons' new facility has already been put to the test with a season-opening meet, while also earning national attention as a welcoming venue for the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Soccer Championships this fall. With a few more meets scheduled for this winter, the Cregger Center will be ready to provide a first class atmosphere for ODAC competitors for the championship on February 26.
Returning rosters are dotted with 26 All-ODAC standouts from a season-ago, including 10 athletes that were part of winning performances and earned All-ODAC First Team honors in 2015-16. BC's Celen and W&L's Lee head that list as the duo combined to win five events. Celen won the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes as well as the 60-meter hurdles and joined returning teammate M'Kala Blue on the winning distance medley relay team. Lee, who earned Athlete of the Meet honors, won the 400-meter dash and the long jump in addition to second in the triple jump and third in the 200-meter dash.
Washington and Lee features two additional returning event winners. Lizzy Stanton claimed the pole vault crown, while ODAC Rookie of the Year Samantha Yates stopped the watches first in the 3,000-meter run. Roanoke College's Mara Briggs and Kerri Dalton picked up wins in the high jump and 5,000-meter run, while teammate Brynn MacDougall was part of the group that captured the 4x400-meter relay title.
The final two returning event winners both feature in throwing events. Virginia Wesleyan's Michelle Yates topped the field in the shot put as part of two scoring performances at the championships. Shenandoah University's Danyelle McGrady won the weight throw and came within about 2.5-feet of turning the double by finishing second in the shot put.
Listed below are capsules for each of the ODAC women's indoor track programs. For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.
*indicates returning athlete
Head Coach: Brian Flynn/Shane StevensReturning All-ODAC Athletes First Team: M'Kala Blue, Amber Celen Second Team: None Third Team: Courtney Adams, Maryellen Hauver, Tye Meador 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 1st - 135.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances 60m: Amber Celen (1st - 0:07.72)* 200m: Amber Celen (1st - 0:25.09)* 60H: Amber Celen (1st - 0:09.57)* TJ: Kristen Trice (1st - 11.31m) 60H: Kristen Trice (2nd - 0:09.60) HJ: Kristen Trice (2nd - 1.65m) LJ: Amber Celen (2nd - 5.58m)* HJ: Courtney Adams (3rd - 1.62m)* PV: Courtney Adams (3rd - 2.82m)* 800m: Maryellen Hauver (3rd - 2:22.73) LJ: Tye Meador (3rd - 5.18m)* 4x400m Relay: 4th - 4:09.81 Distance Medley Relay: 1st - 13:10.40 |
Head Coach: Brian SimpsonReturning All-ODAC Athletes First Team: None Second Team: Kat Lehman Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 6th - 52.5 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances 800m: Hannah Chappell-Dick (1st - 2:20.62) Mile: Hannah Chappell-Dick (1st - 5:03.54) TJ: Oksana Kitrell (4th - 10.57m)* 5K: Kat Lehman (5th - 19:36.21)* 60m: Tajah Miller (6th - 0:08.15)* 400m: Brittany Williams (6th - 1:02.54)* PV: Rachel Sturm (6th - 2.22m)* 4x400m Relay: 5th - 4:13.85 Distance Medley Relay: 2nd - 13:14.36 |
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Head Coach: Danny CashReturning All-ODAC Athletes First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 9th - 4.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances 800m: Rebecca Reyna (12th - 2:33.95) Shot Put: Becca Benfield (9th - 10.02m)* 400m: Sydney Brown (13th - 1:10.81) Mile: Ava Nadel (13th - 6:26.58)* Weight: Becca Benfield (14th - 10.49m)* 4x400m Relay: 7th - 4:32.21 Distance Medley Relay: 7th - 14:03.59 |
Head Coach: Jim SprecherReturning All-ODAC Athletes First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 7th - 29.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances Weight: Kim Alfaro (3rd - 14.74m) TJ: Shanice Clarke (3rd - 10.66m) HJ: Rachel Edwards (5th - 1.46m) Mile: Morgan Alvis (6th - 5:36.97)* Shot Put: Rachel Murray (10.15m)* 4x400m Relay: N/A Distance Medley Relay: N/A |
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Head Coach: Bill CooperReturning All-ODAC Athletes First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Diana Young 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 8th - 15.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances 60m: Diana Young (3rd - 0:07.96)* 200m: Diana Young (5th - 0:26.73)* Weight: Andrea Mewhinney (6th - 12.49m) 400m: Kara Jenkins (8th - 1:04.39) PV: Courtney Hughes (8th - 1.97m)* 4x400m Relay: N/A Distance Medley Relay: N/A |
Head Coach: Kirk NaumanReturning All-ODAC Athletes First Team: Mara Briggs, Kerri Dalton, Brynn MacDougall Second Team: None Third Team: Caity Ashley 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 3rd - 98.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances HJ: Mara Briggs (1st - 1.65m)* 5K: Kerri Dalton (1st - 18:39.01)* 3K: Kerri Dalton (2nd - 10:43.93)* 400m: Alexis Janney (2nd - 0:59.01) 3K: Caity Ashley (3rd - 11:12.49)* 400m: Brynn MacDougall (3rd - 1:00.43)* 4x400m Relay: 1st - 4:04.90 Distance Medley Relay: 5th - 13:47.35 |
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Head Coach: Andy MarroccoReturning All-ODAC Athletes First Team: Danyelle McGrady Second Team: Shamyra Wilkerson Third Team: Alexandria Caljean, Sarah Mann, Shelby Shrader 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 4th - 83.0 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances Weight: Danyelle McGrady (1st - 15.84m)* Shot Put: Danyelle McGrady (2nd - 11.04m)* Weight: Morgan Smith (2nd - 15.09m) 60m: Shamyra Wilkerson (2nd - 0:07.95)* 200m: Shamyra Wilkerson (2nd - 0:25.97)* 5K: Shelby Shrader (3rd - 18:57.45)* Shot Put: Laura Allen (3rd - 10.90m) 4x400m Relay: 6th - 4:29.77 Distance Medley Relay: 3rd - 13:15.51 |
Head Coach: Krista LittletonReturning All-ODAC Athletes First Team: Michelle Yates Second Team: Marissa Coombs Third Team: None 2016 ODAC Champs Finish: 72.5 pts. 2016 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances Shot Put: Michelle Yates (1st - 11.76m)* 800m: Marissa Coombs (2nd - 2:20.80)* Mile: Marissa Coombs (2nd - 5:06.92)* 60m: Shakira Mills (4th - 0:08.11) 400m: Tiana Hughes (4th - 1:01.25) HJ: Rolonda Taylor (4th - 1.56m)* LJ: Rolonda Taylor (4th - 5.15m)* 4x400m Relay: 2nd - 4:05.72 Distance Medley Relay: 6th - 13:57.11 |
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Head Coach: Dana Freeman