Feb. 23, 2008

AKRON, Ohio - The Ohio track and field team competed in its final warm up before the MAC Championships when they took part in the Zips Invitational on this weekend at the University of Akron.

Team scores were not recorded.

The results were promising with the MACs right around the corner, as the Bobcats set or tied four season-best marks at the event.

In the 400 meters junior Jessica Kestler (Maineville, Ohio) tied her and the team season-best time with a 1:00.53 finish which was good for fourth place.

Cathy Udeani (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) and Ashlee Reynolds (Belpre, Ohio) finished first and second, respectively, in the high jump with Udeani setting a new Bobcat season best with 5 foot, 6 inch leap.

The Bobcats scored big in two other jumps competitions, with season best marks also falling in the long jump and triple jump, both from marks set by Brittany Vinson (Amelia, Ohio).

The junior eclipsed the previous Bobcat season best in the long jump by more than seven inches with a mark of 17 feet, 11 inches. She earned a fourth place finish in the long jump.

Vinson also broke the Bobcats season best mark in the triple jump, with a third place jump at 34 feet, 5 inches.

Bahiyjaui Allen (Sylvania, Ohio) continued her success in the shot put by placing third. While not a season best for the sophomore, Allen's throw flew 47 feet, 3.50 inches.

Jessie Tanner, who broke the Bobcat all-time record in the weight throw three weeks ago at another meet in Akron and then broke her own record again last weekend, placed second this weekend with a throw of 54 feet, 1.75 inches. Tanner's record setting throw sailed further than 55 feet.

The Bobcats will have one more week to put in work before heading to the MAC Championships next weekend at Eastern Michigan. The events will span two days, Feb. 29 and March 1.