ALLENDALE, Mich. & FINDLAY, Ohio — Senior All-American Ian McVey (Stow/Munroe Falls) and senior thrower Tia Harris (Newton Falls) rewrote the Ohio Northern track and field record books this weekend, headlining the efforts of 10 ONU men's and women's track and field student-athletes who competed at the GVSU Holiday Open and the 2018 Oiler Open on Friday and Saturday, respectively, to kick off the new indoor season.
On Friday evening, McVey shattered his own 5,000-meter run indoor record at Grand Valley State (Mich.), trimming the school standard by 12 seconds with a career-best 14:20.45 clocking. Due to his efforts, the senior standout finished sixth overall in a multi-divisional field and ended first among all NCAA Division III competitors.
In addition, the All-American's performance now ranks as the fastest time overall in program history within the discipline, having also topped former student-athlete Mike Becraft's 5,000-meter run outdoor standard of 14:22.90 set in 1980.
On Saturday, Harris led six members of the Ohio Northern women's track and field program at the 2018 Oiler Open, hosted by NCAA Division II Findlay. She heaved the shot put 12.87 meters during the preliminary rounds to best her own school record of 12.71 meters set last season. Her toss wound up fifth overall in an 18-competitor interdivisional field.
The Ohio Northern men's and women's track and field program will first compete as a team at the Tiffin Dragon Open following Christmas Break. The event is slated for Saturday, Jan. 19.
