BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It took a photo finish, a collision (and nasty spill) at the tape and a 25-minute officials review, but Ohio Northern’s Matt Molinaro officially became a national champion in the 800-meter run on the final day of the NCAA Division III Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday at the Birmingham Cross Plex.
Molinaro won by just .03 of a second, in 1:51.80, edging Chicago’s Joe Previdi at the wire.
Molinaro led by several meters coming down the home stretch when Previdi tried to pass Molinaro on the inside, causing the collision.
Molinaro took a spill and hit his head on the inside bumper of the track just a few meters across the finish line, while Previdi landed further down the track.
On Friday, Ian McVey earned All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the 5,000-meter run.
Women’s track
Richards sets mark
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — ONU’s Emily Richards broke the D-III meet record in winning the 800 in 2:06.53. The previous mark was 2:06.89 set by Genesia Eddins of U Mass-Boston in 1987.
Richards also won the 1-miler run in 4:51.24 and was third in the 3,000 (9:39.29). On Friday, Maddy Reed earned All-America honors with a fifth place in the pole vault.
Baseball
Bluffton 11,
Edgewood College 6
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bluffton scored a run in the first and never looked back as the Beavers took down Edgewood College to improved to 8-2 on the season, notching the best 10-game start in school history. Edgewood fell to 0-1.
Ryan Golden had five hits, including three doubles, and four RBI, Jacob Latkfsky had four hits and Reid Ruhl contributed three hits and an RBI for Bluffton.
ONU goes 1-1
AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Ohio Northern fell 6-5 in a matchup against RIT (N.Y.) before defeating Nichols (Mass.) 5-1 in the RussMatt Invitational.
The Polar Bears moved to 5-3 on the year, while the Tigers went to 2-0 and the Bison fell to 1-5.
UNOH splits DH
LIMA — The host Racers (14-10) dropped their first Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Athletic game with a 3-2 loss to Indiana Tech (10-11, 6-2 WHAC) after winning the doubleheader opener 3-2.
Softball
ONU gets sweep
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Polar Bears (10-2) defeated Rowan (N.J.) 4-2 and McDaniel (Md.) 3-2 as part of the Sunkissed Games.
Kentucky Christian 4, UNOH 1
CANNONSBURG, Ky. — The Racers fell to 6-1 on the season.
Women’s basketball
Culver recognized
PIQUA — Edison State Community College’s Riley Culver, a Wapakoneta graduate, has been named to the the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team as well as the Division II All-District Team. Culver, a 6-foot-1-inch sophomore center, averaged 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game in conference play.
Men’s lacrosse
ONU 17, Hanover 5
ADA — The Polar Bears improved to 5-1 overall, while the Panthers dropped to 0-6 following the game at Alumni Stadium.
Max Weese led the ONU attack offensively, scoring four goals, while teammate Cameron Marous posted a three-goal, three-assist effort.
Women’s lacrosse
ONU 13, Cleary 7
ADA — Ann McArn posted a hat trick for ONU at Dial-Roberson Stadium. The Polar Bears improved to 3-2 on the season, while the Cougars fell to 1-4.
