NCAA.com: Late decision leads to historic glory for upstart Tiffin
Courtesy of Shane O'Donnell, Tiffin Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
INDIANAPOLIS --- History was made by Tiffin University's men's track and field team March 12 as the Dragons were crowned NCAA Division II Men's Champions, finishing second in the day's final race to push them over the top for first place. It is the first NCAA Championship by any team in Tiffin University's history.
Tiffin University finished with 49 points while Adams State was next with 47. The Dragons had trailed 47-41 entering the 4x400 relay race. TU needed to place first or second to win the championship, and the team of Michael King, Lamar Hargrove, Macerio Clark, and Joel Johnson did not disappoint. They ran a blistering time of 3:10.59, good for 2nd overall and just one-tenth of a second out of first. The 8 points awarded for the second place finish gave TU the national championship.
"This championship is for the entire Tiffin community," said Head Coach Jeremy Croy. "We have received so much support from the university administration throughout the years. My family, all our alum, previous coaches, faculty support...These are the things we are thinking about right now. It is the culmination of a 16 year marathon."
It was the final piece of a strong day for the Dragons, who totaled nine more All-American performances on Saturday following the three All-American showings on Friday.
As usual, Lamar Hargrove was at the heart of it all. He won his third consecutive national championship in the 200 meters, running a 20.81 time and beating Mobolade Ajomale of the Academy of Art by .01 second. His time was a new NCAA Championship record, breaking Josh Scott's 2010 time of 20.91.
Hargrove also took second in the 60 meters in 6.66, while teammate Reginald Thomas was 5th in 6.70. James Ngandu also got the Dragons more team points, finishing 2nd in the 3000 meters in 8:24.15, narrowly missing a first place finish by one second. Dylan Cornwell also garnered All-American honors with a 4th place finish in the pole vault, clearing 16-9.25.
The Grand Valley State Lakers earned a fifth-place showing in the men's standings with 38.25 points, while the Ashland Eagles recorded a top 10 finish with 19 points in the No. 10 spot.
HILLSDALE WOMEN EARN RUNNER-UP FINISH
On the women's side a strong performance by Emily Oren lead the Hillsdale Chargers to a second place finish with 58 points, two points shy of Lincoln (Mo.) who took home the title. Oren gained three more national championship trophies over the weekend starting with a first place finish in the DMR (E. Oren, M. Oren, H. Watts, C. Zehner -11:24.39). Oren then went on win two individual national titles winning both the mile (4:35.48) and the 3k (9:27.28).
Grand Valley State's Jamie Roberts took home the gold in the women's pole vault competition completing a sucessful jump of 4.11m, while leading the Lakers to a third place finish in the final team standings with 33 points.
One hundred student-athletes from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) were scheduled to compete in the national indoor meet, including 55 males and 45 females. The championships were held March 11 and 12 in Pittsburg, Kansas at the Robert W. Plaster Center on Pittsburg State University's campus. Pittsburg State University and the Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau served as co-hosts of the championships.
| 2016 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships - GLIAC Women's Qualifiers | |||||
| Award Color Code: | National Champion | All American (2-8) | |||
| Ashland | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Lauren Ellsworth | 60 Meter Dash | -- | 7.64 | -- | 16 |
| Lauren Ellsworth | 200 Meter | 24.45 | 24.65 | -- | 12 |
| Rebecca Koval | High Jump | 1.70m | 1.66m | -- | 11 |
| Jamie Sindelar | Shot Put | 16.57m | 16.00m | 16.00m | 3 |
| Irene Skinner | 400 Meters | -- | 55.89 | -- | 16 |
| Megan Tomei | Shot Put | 16.00m | 13.78m | -- | 12 |
| Megan Tomei | Weight Throw | 19.73m | 17.34m | -- | 14 |
| Findlay | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Holly Averesch | Shot Put | 14.54m | 13.57m | -- | 16 |
| Alex DeVincentis | Shot Put | 15.24m | 15.31m | 15.31m | 4 |
| Alex DeVincentis | Weight Throw | 18.18m | 17.02m | -- | 15 |
| Sam Grippe | 800 Meter | 2:10.35 | 2:09.58 (3) | 2:10.74 | 6 |
| Lydia Guagenti | Pentathlon | 3,730 | -- | 3668 | 12 |
| Lydia Guagenti | High Jump | 1.75m | 1.69m | 1.69m | 6 |
| Erica King | Weight Throw | 18.55m | 17.49m | -- | 13 |
| Liz Streacker | Weight Throw | 18.21m | 17.51m | -- | 12 |
| Grand Valley State | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Dajsha Avery | Shot Put | 14.54m | 14.27m | 14.27m | 9 |
| Jordan Chester | DMR | 11:41.68 | -- | 11:41.43 | 8 |
| Amy Creutz | DMR | 11:41.68 | -- | 11:41.43 | 8 |
| Amy Cymerman | 5,000 Meter | 16:45.58 | -- | 16:26.81 | 6 |
| Amy Cymerman | 3,000 Meter | 9:43.12 | -- | 9:52.61 | 18 |
| Kendra Foley | 5,000 Meter | 16:41.55 | -- | 16:30.83 | 7 |
| Kendra Foley | 3,000 Meter | 9:33.40 | -- | 9:35.24 | 7 |
| Kaylyn Hill | Weight Throw | 18.18m | 16.82m | -- | 16 |
| Kyra Hull | Weight Throw | -- | 18.48m | 18.48m | 7 |
| Beatriz Indurain | 60 Meter Hurdles | 8.49 | 8.51 | 8.48 | 4 |
| Gina Patterson | 1 Mile Run | 4:46.72 | 4:52.84 | 4:45.03 | 3 |
| Gina Patterson | 3,000 Meter Run | 9:38.00 | -- | 9:44.67 | 10 |
| Angela Ritter | 60 Meter Dash | 7.58 | 7.50 | 7.56 | 7 |
| Angela Ritter | 200 Meter | 24.34 | 24.51 | -- | 9 |
| Jaime Roberts | Pole Vault | 4.10m | 3.81m | 4.11m | 1 |
| Skylar Schoen | Pole Vault | 3.81m | 3.71m | -- | 12 |
| Katie Shaheen | DMR | 11:41.68 | -- | 11:41.43 | 8 |
| Rachel Walters | DMR | 11:41.68 | -- | 11:41.43 | 8 |
| Hillsdale | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Sarah Benson | Long Jump | 5.84m | 5.41m | -- | 16 |
| Kristin Freeman | High Jump | 1.72m | 1.61m | -- | 15 |
| Kristina Galat | 5,000 Meter | 16:57.21 | -- | 16:17.09 | 4 |
| Kristina Galat | 3,000 Meter | 9:30.42 | 9:30.80 | 2 | |
| Hannah McIntyre | 5,000 Meter | 16:37.02 | -- | 16:13.91 | 3 |
| Hannah McIntyre | 3,000 Meter | 9:42.46 | 9:33.28 | 4 | |
| Dana Newell | Weight Throw | 18.59 | 18.24m | 18.24 | 8 |
| Emily Oren | 1 Mile Run | 4:42.34 | 4:52.29 | 4:35.48 | 1 |
| Emily Oren | 3,000 Meter | 9:24.03 | -- | 9:27.98 | 1 |
| Emily Oren | DMR | 11:38.19 | -- | 11:24.39 | 1 |
| Molly Oren | 3,000 Meter | 9:39.83 | -- | 9:50.13 | 16 |
| Molly Oren | DMR | 11:38.19 | -- | 11:24.39 | 1 |
| Rachael Tolsma | Weight Throw | 18.97m | 18.35m | 18.59m | 6 |
| Hannah Watts | DMR | 11:38.19 | -- | 11:24.39 | 1 |
| Corinne Zehner | DMR | 11:38.19 | -- | 11:24.39 | 1 |
| Malone | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Hannah Campbell | 5,000 Meter | 17:07.60 | -- | 17:16.34 | 15 |
| Northern Michigan | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Jasmine Williams | Weight Throw | 18.41m | 17.69m | -- | 11 |
| Northwood | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Elaina Meadows | Long Jump | 5.84m | 5.69m | -- | 10 |
| Saginaw Valley | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Anna Fochesato | High Jump | 1.71m | 1.66m | -- | 11 |
| Anna Fochesato | Triple Jump | 12.04m | 12.14m | 12.14m | 7 |
| Emerald Joiner | Shot Put | 14.42m | 13.81m | -- | 11 |
| Taylor Stepanski | 800 Meter | 2:09.62 | 2:10.28 | 2:13.13 | 8 |
| Tiffin | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Javean Douglas | Weight Throw | 18.45m | 17.82m | -- | 10 |
| Miranda Mondozzi | Weight Throw | 19.21m | F | -- | F |
| Theresa Scott | 60 Meter Dash | 7.49 | 7.60 | -- | 13 |
| Walsh | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Kaitlyn Barber | Pole Vault | 3.85m | 3.81m | -- | 10 |
| Sara Berger | 1 Mile Run | 4:53.30 | 4:52.60 | 4:49.49 | 4 |
| Wayne State | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Karrington Seals | 60 Meter Hurdles | 8.60 | 8.51 (8) | 8.70 | 8 |
| Kierra Johnson | 60 Meter Dash | 7.60 | 7.62 | -- | 15 |
| 2016 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships - GLIAC Men's Qualifiers | |||||
| Award Color Code: | National Champion | All America (2-8) | |||
| Ashland | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Bryn Campbell | Weight Throw | 20.50m | 20.60m | 20.60m | 4 |
| Jordan Crayon | Weight Throw | 21.84m | 20.30m | 21.81m | 1 |
| Clayton Jury | Weight Throw | 19.83m | 18.69m | -- | 11 |
| Elijah Talk | Shot Put | 17.81m | 17.29m | 17.53m | 5 |
| Jared Whitcomb | Shot Put | 17.11m | 16.62m | -- | 13 |
| Jason Zahn | Shot Put | 17.45m | 16.20m | -- | 15 |
| Jason Zahn | Weight Throw | 18.68m | 18.17m | -- | 16 |
| Findlay | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Maliik Briggs | 4x400 Relay | 3:13.94 | -- | 3:11.69 | 7 |
| Michael Bruce | Long Jump | 7.34m | 7.17m | -- | 13 |
| Michael Bruce | Triple Jump | 15.63m | 15.96m | 15.96m | 2 |
| Derek Collins | 4x400 Relay | 3:13.94 | -- | 3:11.69 | 7 |
| Austin Combs | Weight Throw | 18.30m | 18.58m | -- | 12 |
| George Effah | 4x400 Relay | 3:13.94 | -- | 3:11.69 | 7 |
| Trey Everett | High Jump | 2.10m | -- | 2.06m | 8 |
| Ben Hahler | Shot Put | 17.63m | 16.59m | -- | 14 |
| Derek Spindler | Pole Vault | 5.07m | -- | 4.76m | 11 |
| Sergi Torres | 400 Meter | 47.77 | 48.36 | -- | 14 |
| Sergi Torres | 4x400 Relay | 3:13.94 | -- | 3:11.69 | 7 |
| Grand Valley State | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Ethan Barnes | 800 Meter | 1:49.51 | 1:50.69 (4) | 1:49.09 | 3 |
| Bryce Bradley | 5,000 Meter | 14:10.47 | -- | 14:07.93 | 2 |
| Bryce Bradley | 3,000 Meter | 8:06.36 | -- | 8.26 | 9 |
| Lawson Bright-Mitchell | DMR | 9:52.27 | -- | 9:52.23 | 8 |
| Tor'i Brooks | Heptathlon | 5,165 | -- | 5,285 | 7 |
| Tor'i Brooks | High Jump | 2.11m | -- | NH | NH |
| Blake Donson | Weight Throw | 19.80m | 19.17m | 19.17m | 7 |
| Jay Lechner | Weight Throw | 19.97m | 18.38m | -- | 15 |
| Wuoi Mach | 3,000 Meter | 8:11.09 | 8:42.76 | 15 | |
| Wuoi Mach | DMR | 9:52.27 | -- | 9:52.23 | 8 |
| Mike Moon | Weight Throw | 19.59m | 18.87m | 18.87m | 9 |
| Samora Nesbitt | Triple Jump | 15.23m | 14.80m | -- | 11 |
| Zach Panning | 5,000 Meter | 14:15.36 | -- | 14:16.10 | 8 |
| Zach Panning | 3,000 Meter | 8:10.79 | -- | 8:38.84 | 13 |
| Ricky Perez | DMR | 9:52.27 | -- | 9:52.23 | 8 |
| Chaz Porter | DMR | 9:52.27 | -- | 9:52.23 | 8 |
| Chris Saikalis | Shot Put | 18.26m | 18.09m | 18.09m | 3 |
| Darien Thornton | Shot Put | 17.26m | 17.34m | 17.34m | 8 |
| Darien Thornton | Weight Throw | 22.42m | 20.91m | 21.28m | 3 |
| Hunter Weeks | High Jump | 2.10m | -- | 2.06m | 8 |
| Sean Wells | 60 Meter Hurdles | 7.92 | 7.83 | 7.91 | 4 |
| Hillsdale | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| David Chase | 4x400 Relay | 3:13.99 | -- | 3:12.59 | 9 |
| Colby Clark | 4x400 Relay | 3:13.99 | -- | 3:12.59 | 9 |
| Ty Etchemendy | 4x400 Relay | 3:13.99 | -- | 3:12.59 | 9 |
| Caleb Gatchell | DMR | 9:52.68 | -- | 9:50.23 | 6 |
| Noah Hiser | DMR | 9:52.68 | -- | 9:50.23 | 6 |
| Jared Schipper | Pole Vault | 5.27m | -- | 4.91m | 8 |
| Tanner Schwannecke | DMR | 9:52.68 | -- | 9:50.23 | 6 |
| Lane White | 4x400 Relay | 3:13.99 | -- | 3:12.59 | 9 |
| Anthony Wondaal | DMR | 9:52.68 | -- | 9:50.23 | 6 |
| Lake Superior State | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Justin Dieck | Shot Put | 17.97m | 18.15m | 18.15m | 2 |
| Saginaw Valley | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Robert Atwater | High Jump | 2.20m | -- | 2.06m | 6 |
| Andrew Mudd | Heptathlon | 5,262 | -- | DNF | DNF |
| Robert Tarpley | Long Jump | 7.47m | 7.39m | 7.39m | 9 |
| Robert Tarpley | Triple Jump | 15.08m | 14.88m | 14.88m | 9 |
| Tiffin | Event | Seed | Prelims | Finals | Place |
| Coy Blair | Shot Put | 19.20m | 16.76m | -- | 12 |
| Coy Blair | Weight Throw | 20.68m | 19.11m | 19.13m | 8 |
| Macerio Clark | 4x400 Relay | 3:14.03 | -- | 3:10.59 | 2 |
| Marquise Corbett | Long Jump | 7.41m | 7.43m | 7.43m | 8 |
| Dylan Cornwell | Pole Vault | 5.17m | -- | 5.11m | 4 |
| Jay Feuerstein | Shot Put | 17.99m | 17.13m | -- | 11 |
| Lamar Hargrove | 60 Meter Dash | 6.62 | 6.64 | 6.66 | 2 |
| Lamar Hargrove | 200 Meter | 20.90 | 21.03 | 20.81 | 1 |
| Lamar Hargrove | 4x400 Relay | 3:14.03 | -- | 3:10.59 | 2 |
| Joel Johnson | 4x400 Relay | 3:14.03 | -- | 3:10.59 | 2 |
| Michael King | 4x400 Relay | 3:14.03 | -- | 3:10.59 | 2 |
| Theo Mancheron | Heptathlon | 5,264 | -- | 4,743 | 14 |
| Theo Mancheron | Pole Vault | 5.15m | -- | 4.76m | 13 |
| James Ngandu | 5,000 Meter | 14:11.10 | -- | 14:11.77 | 5 |
| James Ngandu | 3,000 Meter | 8:07.02 | -- | 8:24.15 | 2 |
| Reginald Thomas | 60 Meter Dash | 6.73 | 6.77 | 6.70 | 4 |
