Anthony Colbert, Stephanie Charlillo and Maureen Creighton (left to right) hope to make an impact this weekend at the OAC Championships
A year can make a big difference, and this season's Blue Streaks are eager to show the strides they have made when the 2010 Ohio Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships get underway on Friday, April 30 at Mount Union Stadium.
Last year, both the men's and women's teams finished in ninth place out of ten teams and were seemingly an afterthought in the grand scheme. JCU hopes to make a lot more noise in this go-around.
On Friday, the field events will begin at 12:00 p.m. and the track events will begin at 4:15 p.m. On Saturday, the field events will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the track events will begin at 1:40 p.m. A specific schedule of events can be found by
clicking here.
In women's competition this season,
Maureen Creighton (Kenmore, NY, Nardin) currently ranks fifth in the OAC in the 100m dash, fourth in the 200m dash and sixth in the 400m dash. In the field events, John Carroll will look to
Brittany Musa (Madison, OH, Madison),
Alicia Giannell (Perry, OH, Perry) and
Maura Stepanski (Tampa, FL, Tampa Catholic) who are all currently ranked in the top ten in the OAC.
Distance runners
Ashley Aberl,
Tricia Doherty (Chicago, IL, Marist),
Megan Lutz (Oil City, Pa, Venango Catholic) and
Emily Tillmaand (Xenia, OH, Xenia) also should figure into the mix.
The men's team will also look to several Blue Streaks for strong performances this weekend.
David Hickey (Stow, OH, Akron St. Vincent - St. Mary) holds the best OAC finish this season in the 400 m hurdles.
Bill Zaccardelli (Parma, OH, St. Ignatius) ranks high in the OAC in several events, including 100 m dash, 200m dash and 400m dash. The Blue Streaks also have several strong competitors in the field events, including
Mike Minjock (Seven Hills, OH, St. Ignatius) (who is currently the top ranked athlete and third nationally in the long jumo),
Michael Hlatky (Brooklyn Heights, OH, Cleveland St. Ignatius) RK Glover (Wayzata, MN, Benilde-St. Margaret's Academy) and
Bryan Wideman (Boca Raton, FL, Boca Raton).
Returning national qualifier and all-conference performer
David Hickey should also be among the prominent scorers in both the jumps and hurdles.
There will be an admission fee for spectators at the championship. It will cost adults five dollars per day and students two dollars per day, or eight dollars for a two-day pass. All students from OAC schools will get in for free with a school ID and OAC lifetime passes will be honored.
