AU women defend HCAC track and field title

The Anderson University women’s track and field team won its fourth straight title at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships on Friday and Saturday at Macholtz Stadium.

The Ravens defeated runner-up Manchester by a score of 185.5 to 131. Defiance (125) was third followed by Rose-Hulman (102), Franklin (97), Mt. St. Joseph (67), Bluffton (49) and Hanover (21.5).

Gwen Kemple was named the Track Co-MVP after winning the 1,500 meters (4:49.10), 5,000 meters (17:41.13) and 10,000 meters (41:16). Kemple set an HCAC record and a Macholtz Stadium record in the 5,000 meters.

Amanda Nagy, who was Co-MVP, also won multiple events, capturing the 100 meters (12.46), 200 meters (25.82) and the 400 relay (50.75). She has won the 100 and 200 the last three years at the HCAC meet.

Third-year coach Scott Wilson was also named HCAC Track and Field Women’s Coach of the Year.

“I was very proud of how of teams competed over the last two days at this championship,” said Wilson. “Our people really put forth a great effort and showed outstanding determination. We reached many of our goals and we came up short on a few. Our seniors did a great job of showing the way and we had several underclassmen do well too. It was an exciting championship.”

Other winners for the Ravens were Michelle Roth in the triple jump (35-3) and Brett Sears in the hammer (141-7).

Jenny Loerop finished second in the 3,000 steeplechase, setting a school record in a time of 12:00.63.

AU finishers

100 - 1. Amanda Nagy, 12.46, 5. Tonia Cooper, 12. Alexis Miller, 16. Jillian Riffey

200 - 1. Amanda Nagy, 25.82, 5. Tonia Cooper, 11. Rena St. Clair, 15. Whitney Arnold

400 - 6. Rena St. Clair, 7. Whitney Arnold, 9. Maggie Lucas

800 - 3. Nicole VanSkyock, 11. Kristen Reiff, 13. Jenna Zmikly

1,500 - 1. Gwen Kemple, 4:49.10, 3. Nicole VanSkyock, 8. Laura Lash, 9. Jenny Loerop

5,000 - 1. Gwen Kemple, 17:41.13, 5. Jenny Loerop, 7. Laura Lash

10,000 - 1. Gwen Kemple, 41:16.00

100 H - 2. Michelle Roth

400 H - 2. Molly Cummings, 10. Rikki Gilts

3,000 SC - 2. Jenny Loerop, 6. Rikki Gilts

400 relay - 1. Anderson, 50.75

1,600 relay - 2. Anderson

HJ - 2. Julia Connor

LJ - 2. Michelle Roth, 12. Jordan Tipton

PV - 5. Jordan Tipton

Discus - 3. Carmen Moss, 8. Brett Sears, 20. Megan Prater

Triple Jump - 1. Michelle Roth, 35-3, 12. Jordan Tipton

SP - 5. Carmen Moss, 8. Brett Sears, 12. Megan Prater, 20. Katie Malone

Hammer - 1. Brett Sears, 141-7, 8. Megan Prater

Javelin - 5. Molly Cummings

For complete results and standings go to the 2008 Schedule/Results page on the AU athletic web site