The Observer, April 22, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 26
Track teams come up short at All-Ohio
The Case track teams failed to separate themselves from the rest of the competition last week at the All-Ohio Championships at Ohio Wesleyan University. The men's team finished 14th out of 21 teams, and the women placed 15th out of 21. Some members of the team did have success, though.
"Stephen Hrinda and Jeff McManus both ran very well in the 5000m and 3000m steeplechase, respectively. The two of them combined scored more than half of [the men's] points," Aaron Tainter said. McManus finished fourth, and Hrinda finished third and actually combined to score 11 of the men's 18 points at the meet.
Alex Drollinger finished fifth in the hammer throw, Trevor Ilse finished seventh in the 110 hurdles, and Dave Kallevig finished eighth in the javelin to complete the scoring for the men. Tainter, one of the men's best runners, likely would have also performed well, but he did not run because of a medical issue.
Drollinger felt that some members of the team had impressive showings at All-Ohio, but, with a better mindset, could have done even better.
"I was pleasantly surprised by a number of tremendous performances, but still disappointed by the attitudes of some as they competed," he said.
The women had some struggles at All-Ohio. Only two members of the women's team scored. Diana Kovacic finished third in the hammer throw and Alison Donnelly finished fourth in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
Ilse was not too surprised by the team's success at All-Ohio.
"We were up against some of the best athletes we have faced all year, so we placed about how I expected by not finishing in the top 10 teams," Ilse said. "Most of our athletes ran their expected times which just weren't fast enough to score points."
This weekend the team will be competing at UAA Championships. The UAA Championships often include many top Division III track athletes, so the team will have to have their best showing of the year to finish near the top.
"We really have not had too many chances to compete this season thus far," Donnelly said. "I think most people have had at least one performance that they are proud of and hope to add another this weekend in St. Louis."
Drollinger expects the team members to show what they are made of.
"I am expecting the team, the whole team, to finally show up with guts and determination," Drollinger said. "If I am asking that of the team I couldn't ask any less of myself."
The team's seasons, both indoor and outdoor, have seen less success than the team had hoped for. Aaron Tainter led the men in the outdoor season with two victories in the 3000-meter steeplechase, and Emily Bruckner and Diana Kovacic led the women, placing in both the first two meets. Bruckner did not run at All-Ohio.
Ilse said that the team has had to fight through injuries all season and are looking forward to a break after running hard in the last meet.
"The team seems anxious for the off-season," Ilse said. "I personally am looking forward to next year and hoping we have a strong recruiting off-season. We had the talent to do well, but it seemed that every meet something happened to make us run slower than our times, or get injured, which was a major problem."
