Marietta, Ohio – February 27, 2010 - The Heidelberg University men's track and field team, under the guidance of second-year head coach Keith Roberts Jr. took home third-place honors at the 2010 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships hosted by Marietta College in the two-day event.
Depsite being low in numbers, the Berg battled and came together as a team. “I’m really pleased how we fought,” said Roberts. “We did what we had to do and we showed that we are one of top schools in our conference.”
Ohio Northern University won the team title with 155 points, followed by Mount Union College with 119.50 points. Heidelberg finished with 96 points.
Heidelberg combined to bring home two championships and four individual All-OAC honors, along with two relay all-league performances.
Defending his third-straight OAC championship was senior Julius Higginbotham (Elryia, Ohio / Elyria) in the long jump. He matched his season’s best with a NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark of 7.06m (23.02.). Senior Mark Childs (New Albany, Ohio / New Albany) also took home a first place finish in the 500 meter run with a time of 1:06.70.
Also earning All-OAC honors was senior Devin Butcher (Bowling Green, Ohio / Bowling Green) and freshman Josh Lynch (Dayton, Ohio / Meadowdale). Butcher captured second place in the 5000 meter run (15:25.10), while also finishing third in the 3000 meter run (8:54.06). Making impact in his first OAC Championship was Lynch, who placed second in the high jump (6-06.75).
The 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Childs, Seth Robertson (Burton, Ohio / Newbury), Lance Kitchen (Urbana, Ohio / Liberty), and Terrance Horton (Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington) earned second place honors with a time of 3:27.67.
Rounding out the All-OAC honors was the 4x200-meter relay team of Paris Hilliard (Lorain, Ohio / Admiral King), Justin Burnett (Springfield, Ohio / Northwestern), Gibril Kamara (Westerville, Ohio / Central), and Larry Massey. The group crossed the finish line in 1:33.28.