Salem, VA- Sophomore Meredith Withers (Buffalo Gap/VA) scored 4,141 points at the Roanoke College Invitational on Saturday, March 18th, to provisionally qualify for DIII NCAA Outdoor Nationals.
On Friday, Withers won the 100H (16.30), high jump (5'1"), and the 200m dash (26.84) to finish the day in front of her competitors. On Saturday, Withers capped off her performance by winning the long jump (16'3") and the 800m scoring enough points to meet the qualification mark. Withers efforts over the 2 day competition earned her Performer of the Meet honors.
In addition, several ODAC athletes posted some excellent performances. Kim Johnston and Samantha Kistler of Bridgewater College finished 1-2 in the 100m hurdle race. Johnson's time of 15.72 was just ahead of her teammate Kistler who finished in 16.62. Bridgewater College, reigning ODAC 4x100m relay champions, finished 2nd to only Thiel College from Pennsylvania. Bridgewater did take home the 4x200m relay win.
Bridget Tainer and Jane Mullican of Roanoke College dominated the distance events. Tainer raced a tough double, the 3,000m Steeplechase and the 5,000m, and won both in commanding fashion. Mullican, coming off of her ODAC win in the mile, won the 1500m (5:01) while teammate Meg Harnett was just behind Mullican, taking second in 5:03.13.
The Generals of Washington and Lee had two individual winners. Freshman standout Stacy Doornbos won the triple jump, while teammate Stephanie Stelter won the 400m hurdle race.
Southern Virginia took home the women's team championship, followed by Roanoke College in 2nd, Bridgewater 3rd, and Washington and Lee 5th.
On the men's side, Melvin Queen of Bridgewater continued to prove he is the fastest man in the ODAC. Queen won the 100m (10.90) and the 200m dash (22.37) and was the anchor on the both the 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams that only finished second to Theil College. One other Eagle took home individual honors and that was Scott Zittle in the pole vault. Stanley Payton was 3rd in the 1500m behind two unattached runners.
Andrew Parkins started off the Roanoke Maroons by winning the 10,000m (34:19) early Saturday morning. Brian Huff followed, and took home an individual championship in the hammer throw(44.64m). The most outstanding performance for the Maroons came from Andrew Decoster. Decoster was 3rd in the 200m, 5th in the 400m, 7th in the 100m, and also finished 7th in the triple jump.
Ryan Edge was the top finisher for Washington and Lee taking 2nd in the high jump. Wilson Robinson finished 3rd in the 400m hurdles, and the General's 4x100m relay team took 3rd and 4x400m relay team took 4th.
Theil College won the men's overall team championship, followed by Southern Virginia in 2nd, Bridgewater 3rd, Roanoke 4th, and Washington and Lee 6th.