Competition Will be Stiff For Track Championships
Track’s Real Test Begins Tomorrow at Ohio Wesleyan
BY BRIAN PITTS

Having snacked on the hors d’oeuvres of the non-scoring part of their schedule, Oberlin’s track and field team is preparing to feast on the main course — top Division III competition in the NCAC and other schools in Ohio. 

Oberlin chows down the first dish of a three-week buffet of top competition tomorrow at the All-Ohio Division III meet at Ohio Wesleyan University.
The All-Ohio meet is Oberlin’s first major contest of the season. The team is fine-tuning for the Baldwin-Wallace meet that features talent from Divisions I, II and III, and, ultimately, for the NCAC Championships that will be held in two weeks.

(photo by Brad Coryell)

The All-Ohio meet offers Oberlin stiff competition and lots of it. Eighteen schools will compete tomorrow in this qualifying-meet, which ensures that only the best of the best participate.

That number of opponents contrasts starkly with last week’s Oberlin Invitational. Only Wooster’s squad and 10 men from Hiram showed, leaving many Obies to run and jump against empty lanes and pits.
Tomorrow’s atmosphere is certain to be thick with serious challengers. Junior co-captain Daniel Blackburn, who is throwing the discus and shot-put tomorrow, asserted that he is ready to rumble. “Guys come out with a chip on their shoulder and think, ‘I’m the big shit.’ My plan is to go out there and show them that they’re not,” Blackburn said.
Amber Coleman, a first-year sprinter, has never experienced a raucous atmosphere on the track. Yet, she expects to be pushed by serious competition — individuals who run to win, and not just people seeking an exercise program. 

Coleman said, “People will really be serious. [I’m expecting] some hardcore, nervous, straight-faced, serious-minded people saying, ‘I’m ready to do this.’” Sophomore sprinter and jumper Steffon Thomas also appears pumped for tomorrow’s contest. “It should be fun. It will be a feverish atmosphere. I’m pretty excited about it,” Thomas said.

Head Coach Tom Mulligan wants his team to contend with that type of enthusiasm as the season heads toward the NCAC Championships. “I want to see people step up to the challenge of that type of atmosphere; to be physically and mentally attuned to compete. Go down and compete.
“We’ve got talent. Now go down and compete. As a group, go down and take care of business.”
Many of Oberlin’s athletes say they prepare for an important meet by focusing on improving their technique. Hopefully, that translates into better performance. This week provides a great opportunity to see how they measure against conference foes. Zachary Rudisin, a four-year track athlete, said, “It’s definitely a great test to see where you are.”
Maintaining good health is also an important factor in performing optimally. Most of Oberlin’s squad members will travel to Ohio Wesleyan tomorrow, battling through soreness and minor injuries.
Jabari Spruill, a senior jumper, and Apryl Wynn, a junior sprinter, hurdler and jumper, are two notables who will not compete tomorrow. Spruill said he suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain, the least serious of this type of injury, at the Oberlin Invitational. Coach Mulligan said he hopes to know more about Spruill’s condition by the middle of next week.

Mulligan said Wynn, “is not feeling well.” She has been doing light conditioning and practicing, according to Mulligan, and expects to compete in the NCAC Championships.