DePauw track and field took another step on Friday toward preparing for the upcoming outdoor season.
The Tigers hosted eight teams in the Tiger Small College Classic, which was their first home meet of the year as well as their first meet since returning from Winter Term.
“This meet was more of just a practice meet for us…seeing how it feels to compete again,” said sophomore jumper Kayla Kottra.
With stronger numbers, the men’s team was able to finish third overall, while the women placed sixth.
The men’s performance was highlighted by senior Marcus Dozier, who not only won, but also broke his own school record in the shot put with a throw of 17.23 meters. His throw currently stands as the longest in Division III.
“For him to be throwing this well already is really awesome,” said head coach Kori Stoffregen. “He’s fired up about [having the longest throw].”
DePauw also secured first place finishes from first-years Johnny Miller and Paul Christian. Miller won in the long jump (6.11 m/20-0.5), while Christian won the 3,000-meter run (9:06.68).
On the women’s side, the Tigers were held down by injuries. One of DePauw’s top sophomore sprinters, Cami Etgen, sat out with a pulled hamstring.
“Again, it’s not helpful to a women’s team that’s already a little banged up,” said Stoffregen. “There really just wasn’t a lot of fire power out there for the women.”
Nevertheless, DePauw got a string of third place finishes from first-year sprinter Kaitlyn Daanen in the 60-meter dash (8.14 seconds), senior Katie Manalo in the weight throw (12.10m/39-8.5), and senior Ellie Sheffield in the 60-meter hurdles (10.22 seconds).
After being hurt for a significant portion of last indoor season, Kottra was just happy to compete again.
“It was just nice to get back into the rhythm of jumping, just kind of figuring out what I need to work on this season,” Kottra said. “The indoor season is going to be a lot better than it was last year.”
Kottra finished eighth in the long jump (4.03m/13-2.75) and fifth in the triple jump (8.96m/29-4.75).
The Tigers will host their next meet this coming Saturday with the DePauw Invitational, a meet that will draw close to 15 other schools, including Hanover, Centre and Rhodes.
Stoffregen is expecting a better turnout of competitors as the team works towards the spring.
“[The] goal… is trying to get everyone in the meet and… get our feet wet,” said Stoffregen. “It’s a meet that we’re really looking forward to.”