BC's Mills and RC's Graves Share Women's Top Award, EMU's Allen Earns Men's Honor

SALEM, Va. --- Lynchburg College claimed both the men's and women's track & field team championships on Saturday afternoon, marking the third straight ODAC outdoor track and field title for the men's team and 25th overall. The Hornet women won their first outdoor title since 2005 and their eighth overall. Bridgewater College's Olivia Mills and Roanoke College's Carmen Graves were tabbed Co-Athletes of the Meet on the women's side, sharing for the award for the second time this season (2010 indoor championships).  Eastern Mennonite University's Michael Allen earned the men's Athlete of the Meet honor.

Lynchburg head coaches James Goss (women) and Doug Thomasey (men) were named the ODAC Coaches of the Year.  Virginia Wesleyan College freshman Courtney Mebane and Lynchburg freshman Rachad Davis picked up ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades.  The ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete Awards went to Bridgewater's Christina Rhodes, also the winner of the 2010 outdoor honor, and Washington and Lee University's David Doobin, who was selected as the winner of the 2010-11 indoor award.

Mills ran in a pair of events for the Eagles and won them both.  She claimed top prize in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:48.86, and did the same in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 18:43.46.

Graves participated in four individual events and a pair of relays.  She won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:17.14, and did the same in the triple jump with a leap of 11.07 meters (36'4.0").  She also finished second in the 400-meter dash (58.09) and sixth in the long jump (4.92m - 16"1.75").  Roanoke placed second in both the 4x100-meter (51.07) and 4x400-meter (4:05.44) relays.

A pair of NCAA provisional marks were eclipsed on the women's side.  Rhodes set a new ODAC top mark in the pole vault when she cleared 3.57 meters (11'8.5").  The provisional height is 3.55 meters.  Roanoke thrower Whitney Fitzwater improved upon her season-best showing in the hammer throw, which already had surpassed the NCAA provisional mark of 47.70 meters.  Fitzwater's new throw reach 49.65 meters (162'11").

On the men's side, Allen competed in four individual events with a pair of first place finishes.  He won the long jump at 6.65 meters (21'10.0"), and set a new ODAC top mark in the triple jump with a leap of 14.49 meters (47'6.5").  The latter jump eclipsed the NCAA provisional distance of 14.20 meters and bettered his previous season-best spring by 1.01 meters (2'8.25").  Allen also competed in the 100-meter dash (7th - 11.44) and the 200-meter dash (10th - 23.68).

Davis competed in three events over the weekend, winning two individual disciplines and joining his teammates for a relay win.  Davis set a new ODAC top time in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.97 seconds.  He again topped the ODAC season standings in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 55.06 seconds.  The Hornets won the 4x400-meter relay in 3:20.03, also a new conference-best this year.

For a look at the full results, click HERE.  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.