The Tigers' indoor track and field season came to a close this weekend after the men and women traveled to Denison University to compete in the North Coast Atlantic Conference Championship meet.
DePauw men and women scored in four events each, placing them in seventh and eighth place, respectively.
On the women’s side, Ohio Wesleyan took home the gold with a total of 171 points. DePauw sent far fewer competitors, but they were still able to secure an eighth place finish with 28 points.
The team had been bogged down with injuries all season, but refused to let that keep them from finishing the season strong.
“Despite our injuries and loss of teammates due to semesters abroad, we had an okay meet this weekend,” said junior distance runner Claudia Monnett.
Monnett finished fourth in the 3,000m with a time of 10:39.38.
Sophomore Ashley Hash placed third in the high jump at 1.60m, earning her all-NCAC honors, while senior Katie Manalo collected eighth place in shot put with 11.17m.
Most notably, the Tigers' performance was highlighted by first-year pole vaulter Dilan Palmer.
Throughout the competition, Palmer and Oberlin junior Ave Spencer were deadlocked with a height of 3.50m. After a heated “vault-off” to break the tie, Palmer came out on top, boasting a clearance of 11-2.
“My mentality was that I wanted to jump my best of the season,” Palmer said. “I wanted to do well for the team and for myself, and establish a solid foundation of experience and technique this indoor season in order to perform even better in outdoor season.”
With the performance showcased, Palmer broke the DePauw school record of 3.50m and 11-1.75, which had been previously set by Jillian Balser in 2014.
Monnett said that the ladies will use their two-week break to prepare for the outdoor season, which begins on March 19.
On the men’s side, Ohio Wesleyan University took home the first place finish with 223 points. Rival Wabash College trailed in second place with 183.5 points. Similar to the women’s finish, the handful of Tigers that competed were able to bring home a total of 29 points, resulting in a seventh place finish.
The men’s track team told a very similar story to the women’s: a tale of injury and absence.
“As a team felt we gave it all but we have really been plagued by sickness and injuries this year," said senior Marcuz Dozier. "We have a lot of talent, we just need everyone to be healthy."
For Dozier, that was not a problem.
The thrower was able to defend his 2015 NCAC shot put title, earning himself a new personal record of 15.99m. His mark was more than two feet beyond that of his competitions.
Dozier humbly commented after the meet that this was “definitely nowhere near” his best performance.
“But, I was still happy with my form and you can never be disappointed with winning your fourth conference champion title,” he said.
DePauw was also represented in the shot put by sophomore Nate Baker, who placed seventh with 13.09m.
The Tigers saw strong performances from senior Brian Minicks, who finished fifth in the 800m, and sophomore Polo Burguete, who posted an eighth place result in the mile.
DePauw’s 4 x 200 relay placed seventh with a time of 1:36.80. The squad is comprised of sophomore David Linton and first-years Johnny Miller, Chase Wright and Alex Rossebo.
The men and women’s teams will return to action at the Rose-Hulman Early Bird Meet on March 19.
Meanwhile, Marcus Dozier will prepare for next weekend’s NCAA Division III Indoor Championships at Grinnell College in Iowa.
“It’s been nearly 16 years since DePauw has had it last National champion in track and field,” Dozier said. “It’s time we have another, and I want to be that person.”