LEANN BURKE / THE DEPAUW
Three school records were broken on Friday in the track team’s season-opening meet. One came from the women’s team, who placed first overall, and two came from the men’s team, who finished the event second overall.
The Tiger Small College Invitational brought seven teams to Greencastle this weekend, according to junior Heather O’Brien.
O’Brien was one of four Tigers to place first in an event. O’Brien won the mile with a time of 5:22.45, while sophomore Claudia Monnett, sophomore Meghan Burke, and senior Celia Kauth also placed first in their event.
“I was happy with my performance on Friday,” O’Brien said. “The mile is one of my favorite events, so it was fun to get to lead the pace for that. But I know I can't settle or be satisfied because the competition will only start to pick up, and I know there are girls training just as hard. I think it can only go up from here, for me personally, and for the women's team.”
Along with a first place finish in the high jump, Kauth also broke her own school record this weekend at 1.63 meters.
“Winning the high jump and beating my own DePauw University record in the first meet of the season was incredibly special for me,” Kauth said of the accomplishment. “The jump was my career best, and I was fortunate enough to have so many loved ones at the meet watching as it happened.”
The men’s team also had records broken—junior Marcus Dozier broke the DePauw indoor record by two feet in the shot put, placing second with a 15.70 meter throw, setting the tone for what he hopes to be a successful season.
“I feel I had a very accomplished meet,” Dozier said. “I came in with 4 goals and I accomplished 3 of them: to break the school record, take the #1 spot in conference, get on the top 25 national list, and win my event. Unfortunately I came a little short on the last one but for my first meet since May I have no complaints.”
First-year Josh Ebikwo, competing for the first time, broke DePauw’s record in the 60-meter dash crossing the finish line in 7.09 seconds.
As a team, the women Tigers were very excited about the results they have gotten from all their hard work in the offseason.
“My teammates worked incredibly hard in the months preceding this track season and our win Friday night was a testament to the many hours of work put in by so many dedicated athletes,” Kauth said.
The men also are excited about their first meet and the message its sent.
“Before the meet the other captains and I talked to the team and said we were going to show the NCAC that we mean business this season and with 22 top 10 places currently in the conference after our first meet, I believe our message is clear,” Dozier said.
For both the men’s and women’s teams, their next chance to compete will come on Feb. 14, when they host the DePauw invitational.