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Season preview: men's indoor track and field looks to capture sixth consecutive indoor OAC championship

By Andrew Korba

The Ohio Northern men's track and field program has established itself as one of the premier programs in the conference and perhaps the  region.

In 2012, the team earned its fifth straight OAC indoor championship and finished third at the outdoor conference meet, which was its eighth consecutive top three finish at the outdoor championship.

"We had an unbelievable performance at the indoor meet, and carried some of that momentum into the outdoor season," said head coach Jason Maus. "We are looking to have the same success this season that we have had in the past seasons."

Entering the 2013 season Northern returns experience in every event category.

Sprints

Sprints is an area that is young, but is easily one of the most talented groups on the squad.

Junior Francisque Pierre-Jerome is a two time All-American and was the OAC Champion in the 60 meter dash, 200 meter dash and 4x200 relay.   

Also looking to replicate last season's success is junior Adrian Arias and sophomores Jonathan Roseler and James Rader.

Arias posted a solid sophomore season, earning an All-OAC nod in the outdoor 4x100. He also posted some of the top times on the team in many sprinting events.

Roseler was on the OAC Champion 4x200 Indoor Champion team. Roseler also teamed with Arias and Pierre-Jerome to take the 4x100 relay in the outdoor season.

Rader focused more on the long sprints and will look to improve off of a good freshman season.

This young but talented group of sprinters will be called upon to help lead the team.

Mid-Distance

Mid-distance events will be led by four time OAC Champion senior Ben Ankrom.

Ankrom was an OAC Champion in the DMR and earned two more All-OAC nods in the outdoor 800 and 1,500 run.

Junior Evan McKee will provide more depth, as he earned All-OAC accolades in the indoor and outdoor 800 run.

Junior Mathew Johnson will also be at the core of the mid-distance runners.

Distance

Distance events will be led by senior Michael Simmons, who holds the school record in the steeplechase.

Senior Kenton Holliday and junior Mark Berton posted strong cross country seasons and will look to carry over their success into the track & field season.

Sophomores Nathan Rosenbaum, Jeff Denny and Dan Steigerwald will also provide depth to a very talented group of distance runners.

Field

Senior Kris Yaple leads a group of field athletes.

Junior Kyle Weslosky returns after posting top team throws in the javelin.

The Polar Bears will also look for results from sophomores Phil Farwig, Lance Hartman and Adam Tracy, as well as a handful of freshman.

The Polar Bears welcome back junior Brett Bomba who is a two year letterman in jumps.

Sophomore Ryan Brancheau also earned an All-OAC selection last season. These two will be called upon to lead the group of jumpers.

"We have a lot of talent," Maus added. "If we work hard, we can be right up there at the top of the OAC in both the indoor and the outdoor season."

Schedule

Both teams will open their indoor seasons on January 18 at the Northwest Ohio meet in Findlay.

The following week, both teams will get their first taste of OAC competition at the OAC Split Meet.

February will feature the annual Joe Banks Invitational at the ONU Sports Center. The Polar Bears will also compete at the always tough All-Ohio Championships on February 9. ONU will then return home to host the OAC Indoor Championships on February 22-23.

The indoor season comes to a conclusion on March 8 and 9 with the NCAA Championships in Naperville, Ill.

The outdoor season begins on March 16 at the Muskingum Duals.

Northern then travels to the Washington & Lee Carnival the following weekend and then will compete in the OAC Split Meet at Wilmington on March 29.

The Polar Bears will have a busy April, participating in the Marv Frye Invitational at Ohio Wesleyan, followed by the All-Ohio Championships and the Kenyon Invitational.

April concludes with the OAC Outdoor Championships on April 26 and 27 at Mount Union.

The outdoor season will come to a close on May 23-25 with the NCAA Championshipa in LaCrosse, Wis.

"Our schedule this season will definitely challenge both teams this season," said Maus. "We are a young group and we want to give everyone some good competition early on so they know what they have to go up against all season."

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