Cedarville University's track and field teams dominated their home opener at the Cedarville Collegiate Invite, with the men scoring 234 points and the women 181. The Yellow Jackets won 17 events and broke three school records in a strong return from the Christmas break. Depth across events proved key to their success.
Cedarville University's track and field program kicked off the indoor season impressively at the Cedarville Collegiate Invite, following an earlier appearance at the Wittenberg Opener in December. The men's team secured victory with 234 points, nearly double the 132 points of second-place Kentucky State. The women's team also claimed the title, amassing 181 points to edge out Central State.
The Yellow Jackets excelled in 17 events, shattering three school records. Sophomore Josh Paul highlighted the meet with a triple jump of 14.81 meters (48 feet, 7.12 inches), breaking his own previous record by nearly a foot. His performance featured a strong transition through phases, absorbing significant impact before soaring into the sand pit.
Cedarville's depth was evident in sweeps of the top five places in the 60m hurdles, men's mile, and women's mile, earning 33, 36, and 39 points respectively in those events. The team also placed two athletes in the top three in multiple other events, underscoring their balanced strength.
Sophomore high jumper Nehemiah Barrett earned his first Division II provisional qualifying mark for nationals. He emphasized team unity, saying, “We have a lot of camaraderie. We work well together.” Barrett noted the need to score points across all events to contend for the GMAC Conference Championships on February 27-28 in Ashland, Ohio.
Head coach Jeff Bolender praised the effort: “This was an excellent start for us.” He attributed the results to gratitude and stewardship of talents, aligning with the program's values. The Yellow Jackets look ahead to the Wittenberg Showcase on January 31 in Springfield, Ohio, facing regional competition.
