TicketsCINCINNATI - Despite cool temperatures and a brief spat of rain to open the day, the first day of competition at the University of Cincinnati's Oliver Nikoloff Open came to a close Friday night with some hot marks and big personal bests as senior Tessa Ward crushed her previous best to win the 10,000m race while the Bearcats that competed on the day combined for nine total PRs in action at both Gettler Stadium and Coy Field. The meet, which opened with the men's and women's 10,000m runs and the women's and men's hammer throws, will continue Saturday with the remainder of the events.
// A WARD-IFUL RUN
The last race of the day was certainly not the least entertaining as senior Tessa Ward took to the track in the 10,000m run and, with the help of her teammates, put down a time of 36:59.25 to not only win the race, but do so with a massive personal-best time. With her teammates cheering her on from the infield, Ward took 1:45.76 off her previous lifetime best (38:45.01) and moved into the program's all-time Top 10 at the #8 position with her run, which also is the fastest run by a Bearcats woman since 2011 (Michele McKenney, 36:58.81). Her time also ranks as the sixth-best in the 14-year history of the Nikoloff meet.
Ward did not go it alone, however, as two of her teammates were on the track with her for much of the race. True freshman Sam Mikula helped lead the way and stepped off the track after 5,000m, running 18:25 to that point. The next 1,000m of the race saw Hannah Markel lead the way before she stepped off the track at 22:07 and made way for Ward to cover the final 4,000m on her own.
// MEECE HAMMERS LONG THROW
In the first outdoor event of the year for the men, six Bearcats entered the throwing circle for the hammer throw and four recorded personal-best tosses, including freshman Sam Meece, who was the top UC finisher in third place with a best of 54.35m (178-03). With that toss, Meece not only placed himself seventh on the program's all-time Top 10 list, but also gave him the freshman record that was previously held by Ian Jarman with his mark of 52.68m (172-10) in 2006. Comparatively, Meece's mark landed 5' 5" further than the previous UC rookie record for the event.
Also posting PRs on the day were Marcus Abraham, who was fifth overall with a best of 50.19m (164-08), Aaron Deaton, who was sixth overall at 48.43m (158-10), and Jacob Rieman, who was ninth at 44.62m (146-04). Chris Province finished seventh overall with a mark of 47.56m (156-00) while Danny Jones fouled his three attempts.
// COLLINS PACES MEN
The men's 10,000m run was the first race on the track Friday night with three Bearcats taking part in the race, including Seamus Collins, who was the top collegiate finisher overall. Collins, a senior, ran 31:26.83 to post a personal-best time and finish second overall in the event behind a post-collegiate competitor. Freshman Ryan Guenthner ran his first outdoor race for the Bearcats and posted a PR time of 31:35.09 in the process. Also racing was senior Spencer Clark, who was ninth overall in 33:11.43.
// WOMEN'S HAMMER GETS MARKS
The first event of the meet was the women's hammer. In the event, the three Bearcats entered placed fourth, fifth and sixth overall with Leah Heckaman leading the way. Heckaman, who had not competed outdoors since the 2016 season, threw the hammer to 48.67m (159-08). Senior Alexis Gray was next and threw a PR of 48.51m (159-02) while fellow senior Ashley Williams also posted PR with her best of 41.86m (137-04).
// ON DECK
The second and final day of action for the Nikoloff Open will take place Saturday with a trio of field events opening the action, including women's javelin at Coy Field and both the women's pole vault and men's discus at Gettler Stadium starting at 10 a.m. Following a Senior Day recognition ceremony at 11:15 a.m., the running events will get underway at noon with the men's 3,000m steeplechase.
2018 Oliver Nikoloff Open
March 30 (Day 1) • Gettler Stadium & Coy Field • Cincinnati, Ohio
Women's Results
10,000m Run
1. Tessa Ward - 36:59.25 - PR & UC #8 & Meet #6
Sam Mikula - DNF
Hannah Markel - DNF
Hammer
4. Leah Heckaman - 48.67m (159-08)
5. Alexis Gray - 48.51m (159-02) - PR
6. Ashley Williams - 41.86m (137-04) - PR
Men's Results
10,000m Run
2. Seamus Collins - 31:26.83 - PR (top collegiate finisher)
4. Ryan Guenthner - 31:35.09 - PR
9. Spencer Clark - 33:11.43
Hammer
3. Sam Meece - 54.35m (178-03) - PR, UC #7 & UC FROSH RECORD
5. Marcus Abraham - 50.19m (164-08) - PR
6. Aaron Deaton - 48.43m (158-10) - PR
7. Chris Province - 47.56m (156-00)
9. Jacob Rieman - 44.62m (146-04) - PR
Danny Jones - foul
// A WARD-IFUL RUN
The last race of the day was certainly not the least entertaining as senior Tessa Ward took to the track in the 10,000m run and, with the help of her teammates, put down a time of 36:59.25 to not only win the race, but do so with a massive personal-best time. With her teammates cheering her on from the infield, Ward took 1:45.76 off her previous lifetime best (38:45.01) and moved into the program's all-time Top 10 at the #8 position with her run, which also is the fastest run by a Bearcats woman since 2011 (Michele McKenney, 36:58.81). Her time also ranks as the sixth-best in the 14-year history of the Nikoloff meet.
Ward did not go it alone, however, as two of her teammates were on the track with her for much of the race. True freshman Sam Mikula helped lead the way and stepped off the track after 5,000m, running 18:25 to that point. The next 1,000m of the race saw Hannah Markel lead the way before she stepped off the track at 22:07 and made way for Ward to cover the final 4,000m on her own.
// MEECE HAMMERS LONG THROW
In the first outdoor event of the year for the men, six Bearcats entered the throwing circle for the hammer throw and four recorded personal-best tosses, including freshman Sam Meece, who was the top UC finisher in third place with a best of 54.35m (178-03). With that toss, Meece not only placed himself seventh on the program's all-time Top 10 list, but also gave him the freshman record that was previously held by Ian Jarman with his mark of 52.68m (172-10) in 2006. Comparatively, Meece's mark landed 5' 5" further than the previous UC rookie record for the event.
Also posting PRs on the day were Marcus Abraham, who was fifth overall with a best of 50.19m (164-08), Aaron Deaton, who was sixth overall at 48.43m (158-10), and Jacob Rieman, who was ninth at 44.62m (146-04). Chris Province finished seventh overall with a mark of 47.56m (156-00) while Danny Jones fouled his three attempts.
// COLLINS PACES MEN
The men's 10,000m run was the first race on the track Friday night with three Bearcats taking part in the race, including Seamus Collins, who was the top collegiate finisher overall. Collins, a senior, ran 31:26.83 to post a personal-best time and finish second overall in the event behind a post-collegiate competitor. Freshman Ryan Guenthner ran his first outdoor race for the Bearcats and posted a PR time of 31:35.09 in the process. Also racing was senior Spencer Clark, who was ninth overall in 33:11.43.
// WOMEN'S HAMMER GETS MARKS
The first event of the meet was the women's hammer. In the event, the three Bearcats entered placed fourth, fifth and sixth overall with Leah Heckaman leading the way. Heckaman, who had not competed outdoors since the 2016 season, threw the hammer to 48.67m (159-08). Senior Alexis Gray was next and threw a PR of 48.51m (159-02) while fellow senior Ashley Williams also posted PR with her best of 41.86m (137-04).
// ON DECK
The second and final day of action for the Nikoloff Open will take place Saturday with a trio of field events opening the action, including women's javelin at Coy Field and both the women's pole vault and men's discus at Gettler Stadium starting at 10 a.m. Following a Senior Day recognition ceremony at 11:15 a.m., the running events will get underway at noon with the men's 3,000m steeplechase.
2018 Oliver Nikoloff Open
March 30 (Day 1) • Gettler Stadium & Coy Field • Cincinnati, Ohio
Women's Results
10,000m Run
1. Tessa Ward - 36:59.25 - PR & UC #8 & Meet #6
Sam Mikula - DNF
Hannah Markel - DNF
Hammer
4. Leah Heckaman - 48.67m (159-08)
5. Alexis Gray - 48.51m (159-02) - PR
6. Ashley Williams - 41.86m (137-04) - PR
Men's Results
10,000m Run
2. Seamus Collins - 31:26.83 - PR (top collegiate finisher)
4. Ryan Guenthner - 31:35.09 - PR
9. Spencer Clark - 33:11.43
Hammer
3. Sam Meece - 54.35m (178-03) - PR, UC #7 & UC FROSH RECORD
5. Marcus Abraham - 50.19m (164-08) - PR
6. Aaron Deaton - 48.43m (158-10) - PR
7. Chris Province - 47.56m (156-00)
9. Jacob Rieman - 44.62m (146-04) - PR
Danny Jones - foul