DC Track & Field Receive Mention in Div. III Power Rankings

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College men’s and women’s track & field program each received points in the Division III Track & Field Team Power rankings.

The men received 122.49 points, ranking first in the HCAC and eighth overall in the Great Lakes region. Strong individual performances have helped push the Jackets up to 31st nationally, just 29 points shy of the top 25.

Brad Zarembski, Trevor Matuszak and Ryan Perry have gotten their 2008 indoor season off to a great start. Zarembski broke his own school record and provisionally qualified for the NCAA indoor championships, clearing 6-07.00 in the high jump at the Tom Wright Classic. Matuszak also qualified provisionally at the Tom Wright Classic, as his toss of 55-03.00 set a new school record. In his first two collegiate meets Perry has worked his way into the DC record books, ranking sixth all-time in the 55m (6.62) and seventh in the 200m (23.78).

The women’s team earned 84.20 points on its way to a third-place ranking in the HCAC. Kristin Goldstein along with Samantha Higdon and Julie Kern have led the way for DC, which ranks 11th in the Great Lakes region and 33rd nationally.

Goldstein ran the third-best 55m in DC history, finishing the 55m in 7.81 at the Taylor Indoor Invitational. Higdon’s toss of 48-08.75 in the weight throw ranks second all-time, while Kern cleared 4-08.00 at the Taylor Indoor Invitational.

Defiance will be back in action tonight, February 8, at Ohio Northern University for the Friday Night Series Meet.