FOREST, Va. --- For the first time in conference history, the ODAC Indoor Track & Field Championships will cover two days as league teams converge on Salem for this season's conference meet. Roanoke College's Kerr-Cregger Field House will serve as the host venue for a fourth consecutive season.
The two-day 32-event affair begins at 6:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 29 with a limited slate of events. Action continues on Sunday, March 1 with field events beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET and track events joining the fray at 2:30 p.m. ET.
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Last year, Washington and Lee University captured its third straight ODAC men's team crown with a tight 146.5 to 139.0 triumph over Bridgewater College in the team standings. On the women's ledger, the University of Lynchburg ended a five-year title run by Bridgewater with a 176.0 to 132.0 decision over the second place Eagles.
Four of the six new conference records set last season came during the men's competition. Randolph College's Darren Petty reset the ODAC overall and meet records in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.23-seconds. Bridgewater sprinter Davonta Womack -- prior to becoming Division III's "fastest man" by winning the outdoor 100-meter dash -- set a championships record in the 60-meter dash in 6.83-seconds. Former fellow Eagle Jamie Hiegel established a new mark in the 5000-meter run at 14:54.53.
Bridgewater's Emily Valle accounted for both records in the women's competition. She reset the ODAC overall and meet records in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.89-seconds.
RELATED: ODAC Women's Indoor Track Record Book | ODAC Men's Indoor Track Record Book
Several athletes are set to defend their titles from last season. On the women's side, Bridgewater's Calista Ariel won both the 3000-meter and 5000-meter runs. She is the #1 seed in the 3000m (10:20.07) and slotted second in the 5000m (18:08.41) behind teammate English Jackson (17:37.81). Jackson, however, is not slated to defender her crown in the 2019 mile run. Valle will have plenty of competition in her bid to repeat in the 60-meter hurdles. She is slotted fifth (9.66) with Lynchburg's LaMaya Lacy as the top seed (8.95).
Washington and Lee's Anne Cunningham is in prime position to repeat as the 800-meter run champion. She is slotted first (2:19.36) in this year's field.
In the jumps, Lynchburg's Donzailya Berg and Zoe Scales make a run at defending titles. Berg won the 2019 high jump and is second with Roanoke's Alison Moreau at 1.55 meters behind BC's Felicia Clements (1.67m). Scales claimed the triple jump crown last season and enters this weekend third (10.85m) behind Virginia Wesleyan University standout Jaylyn Lane (11.22m) and Lynchburg's Lacy (10.92m).
When it comes to throwing events, both Lynchburg's Sammi Woods and Roanoke's Jayna Jean-Jules are favorites to repeat. Woods won the shot put and holds a wide margin as the top seed (13.13m) entering this year's competition. Jean-Jules' hold on #1 in the weight throw isn't as strong, but her 14.89-meter top mark has her in line to defend that title.
VWU's Lane leads the list of athletes to watch this season. Not only is the #1 in the triple jump, but she sits atop the long jump (5.27m) and 200-meter dash (26.30) entry lists. W&L's Sara Stephenson, who won the individual cross country crown in the fall, sits #1 in the mile run (5:14.32) and second in the 3000-meter run (10:20.07). Teammate Nikki Doherty is second in the 200-meter dash (26.54) and 60-meter hurdles (9.08). Roanoke's Claire Aurand (7.92) and Lynchburg Jessica Cammarata (1:01.30) are first in the 60-meter and 400-meter dashes, respectively.
The pole vault is up for grabs between four athletes all tied 3.35-meters cleared -- Lynchburg's Bailey Casto and Lauren Anderson and Roanoke's Lindsey Baxter and Chloe Van Duyne.
In the men's competition, Bridgewater's Davonta Womack will try to become a three-time champion in three events. He won the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes as well long jump each of the past two seasons. He is #1 in both the 60m (6.82) and long jump (7.15m), but has some work to do in the 200m (22.76) as he sits fifth behind Lynchburg's Alex Shadkhoo (22.17), Shenandoah University's Miles Moore (22.29), Eastern Mennonite University's Alijah Johnson (22.62), and W&L's Doug Dracon (22.70).
W&L's Donovan Fiore and Alexander Caines as well as Lynchburg's Reid Sharkey also hope to repeat as track event winners. Fiore claimed the 2019 400-meter dash race and owns the top seed (50.27) entering the weekend. Caines won the 800-meter run. He sits third (1:59.26) entering this year's event behind Lynchburg's Shawn Gmurek (1:55.62) and EMU's Isaac Alderfer (1:58.13). Sharkey is the top seed by more than five-seconds (4:18.07) as he tries to repeat as the mile run champion. He is also the #1 entry (8:34.18) in the 3000-meter run.
Bridgewater's Michael Lotts turned heads with an ODAC-record showing in the weight throw earlier this season. He tossed the apparatus 17.91 meters to etch his name in the conference books and enters the weekend more than 2.50 meters clear of second position. A pair of Emory & Henry throwers are separated by just 0.03 meters for the #1 in the shot put. Donovan Pinnix (14.41m) and Justin Fannon (14.38m) are a bit more than a half-meter clear of the rest of the field.
W&L's Joe O'Connor has his sights set a second pole vault title. He won last year's indoor event and separated himself as the top seed (4.80m) enter the weekend. He is also third (1.88m) with teammate Dan Kuntz on the high jump entry list behind BC's Rashon Davis (1.95m) and Chase Rosenthal (1.91m). Rosenthal is seeded #1 (8.25) in the 60-meter hurdles ahead of VWU's Landry Moffo (8.39) and O'Connor (8.50).
ODAC fans should also keep an eye on Lynchburg's Tristan Lucy-Speidel and Shenandoah's Jason White. Lucy-Speidel leads the way in the 5000-meter run (15:16.77) in front of VWU's Skyler Lattuca (15:35.66). White tops the triple jump field at 14.90 meters in front of the Marlins Geni Roberts. Roberts (7.00m) along with Lynchburg Julian Douglas (7.04m) could also factor into the long jump conversation.
RELATED: 2020 Performance/Qualifying List | 2020 Championship Heat Sheet
If a trip to Roanoke's Kerr-Cregger Field House isn't the cards, be sure to follow along with live results provided by Blue Ridge Timing on the ODAC championship website. For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.