Jan. 12, 2007

Teams Look to Maintain Top Performances in Field Events

    Youngstown -- Coming off of runner-up finishes at the Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championship, the Youngstown State men's and women's squads will turn to veterans in the field events to get them back to the top of the podium.
    The future looks bright as all but one point scorer from each team returns to join an impressive group of newcomers.

Women's Throws
    Three-time Horizon League indoor champion Bethany Anderson will return as the top thrower for a veteran group that scored 50 points at the conference meet a  year ago. Anderson swept the throws last season as a sophomore after being named the Field Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.
    Anderson's victory in the weight throw came in front of three other Penguins, two of which return this season. Senior Amy Hill finished third while senior Lindsay Cobey placed fourth. Hill also finished second in the shot put while her sister Lindsey Hill placed fourth.

Men's Throws
    The men will be without First-Team Academic All-American Jarrod Davis, but three top-three finishers from conference return to make the Penguins a force in the throws.
    Senior Drew Weizer finished second to Davis in the weight throw at the league meet last season and junior Joe Lahmon placed third. Aaron Merrill was named the Field Newcomer of the Year during the outdoor season after winning the shot put after posting a third-place finish during the indoor campaign.
    Robert Morris transfer Dominic DeFilippo and local newcomers Sam Cassano (Austintown Fitch High) and Kyle Muir (Ursuline High) will also give the Penguins a lift.

Women's Multi/Jumps/Pole Vault
    Yandeh Joh emerged as one of the most versatile competitors in the Horizon League last season after placing second in three events and fifth in another at the league championship. The junior placed second in the pentathlon just 23 points behind the winner, and she matched the winner in the long jump but finished second because of the tiebreaker.
    Sophomore Jen Grayson was also a key contributor in several field events, placing second in the high jump and third in the pentathlon.
    Former Field Performer of the Meet Carly Youlton returns for her junior season after finishing third in the triple jump and seventh in the long jump last season. Darcelle Formby placed fifth in the long jump at the conference meet despite battling through an injured hamstring.
    Freshman Alisha Anthony set the Ohio Division III state long jump record in high school and should contribute immediately.
    Sophomore school record holder Stephanie Jarvis returns to lead the pole vault squad while Darla Wilson and newcomer Kristen Hill will add depth.

Men's Multi/Jumps
    Junior Jason Greenamyer returns after finishing second in the heptathlon and third in the high jump at the indoor championship last season.
    Michael Perri and Martin Vieth also placed among the top five in the heptathlon and high jump last season to give the Penguins a solid punch. Perri was third in the heptathlon and fifth in the high jump while Vieth was fourth in the high jump and fifth in the heptathlon.
    Shayne York placed fourth in the long jump at the conference meet a year ago while Greenamyer was seventh.