Season Preview: The Men's Track & Field team returns strong core for the 2016 season
By Ashley Birchmeier
ADA — The Ohio Northern men's track & field team returns a strong core for the 2016 season and will look to compete for an Ohio Athletic Conference championship.
Seventh-year head coach Jason Maus welcomes back 30 lettermen from last season's squad that finished third at the OAC Indoor Championships and second at the OAC Outdoor Championships.
"We are looking to build off of momentum from last spring and this fall," stated Maus. "Our team has as set the goals and expectations of this year pretty high. So we are pushing and challenging to get to that level."
Here is how the 2016 Polar Bears break down in every event category:
Sprints
The Polar Bears welcome back seniors Robbie Brinkman, Christian Rupe and Jojuan Fisher in the sprint category.
Brinkman, Rupe and Fisher all earned All-OAC honors a season ago. Brinkman claimed a fourth place finish at the OAC Indoor Championships and set new personal best in the 60 hurdles.
Rupe also claimed All-OAC honors lasts season at the OAC Outdoor Championships, claiming three top-three finishes, while Fisher earned All-OAC honors as a member of the 4x100 relay.
Also returning for ONU, are sophomores Denorris Turner and Matt Craven. Both claimed top-ten finishes last season at the OAC Championships and set new personal best's in their respective events.
Craven also holds the school indoor record for the 60-meter hurdles.
Mid-Distance
The mid-distance group is led this season by junior Andrew Harden and sophomore Matt Molinaro.
Molinaro claimed OAC Outdoor Distance Runner of the Year honors, winning the 1,500-meter run and 800-meter run.
Senior William Huddleston also returns for the Polar Bears after a successful campaign a season ago.
Distance
The distance group returns a strong core for the upcoming season. Juniors Aaren Hemmelgarn and Kase Schalois will look to contribute in a major way.
Last season, Hemmelgarn led the distance group claiming a second place finish in the 5,000-meter run at the OAC Outdoor Championships and claimed All-OAC honors as part of the OAC Indoor Championships.
Schalois also had a successful campaign, winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the OAC Outdoor Championships.
Also returning are senior Eric Wymer and junior Cully Gordon. Both won letters last season for the Polar Bears and will look to provide depth this season.
Field
Brinkman will look to lead the jump group in 2016. Last season, Brinkman set new personal best in the triple jump and long jump.
Junior Brandon Ike returns as the top pole vaulter for the Polar Bears after claiming a top-ten finish at the OAC Indoor Championships a season ago.
In the throwing department, juniors Lucas Shumate and Zane Augustine will look to lead the group.
Shumate claimed a top ten finish at the OAC Indoor Championships and also garnered All-OAC honors at the OAC Outdoor Championships in the discus and the hammer.
Augustine also posted a strong 2015 season, earning his first varsity letter and setting three new personal bests.
Schedule
The men's and women's teams open the indoor season with the OAC Split Meet hosted by Mount Union on Jan. 22. The Polar Bears will then compete at the Grand Valley State (Mich.) Invitational on Jan. 30.
Northern will once again host the annual Joe Banks Invitational Feb. 6 before traveling to Westerville on Feb. 13 to compete in the All-Ohio Championships.
The OAC Championships will take place at Marietta on Feb. 26-27, and then the Polar Bears will return home once more for the Polar Bears Last Chance meet Mar. 4-5.
The NCAA III Indoor Championships will close out the season on Mar. 11 and Mar. 12 in Grinnell, Iowa.
The outdoor season opens on Mar. 19 with the Muskie Duals hosted by Muskingum. The Polar Bears will then compete in the Cedarville Invitational Mar. 26, followed by the Centre (Ky.) Invitational Apr. 2 and the Ohio Wesleyan Marv Frye Invitational Apr. 9. ONU will then travel to Delaware where they will take part in the All-Ohio Championships Apr. 16.
Northern will host one outdoor meet this season on Apr. 23, the Polar Bear Invitational, before traveling to Wilmington on Apr. 29 and 30 for the OAC Championships.
"We have a nice balance in the schedule this year," said Maus. "Some trips that will allow us to see some different schools and different levels of competition. But we'll get to see some competition that will prepare us for the conference level."
The outdoor season will close with the NCAA III Outdoor Championships hosted in Wartburg, Iowa, May 26-28.