Columbis, SC - The Trailblazers return home this week from Columbia, South Carolina and the NCCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championship. The Men's and Women's teams had a successful week, with 3 podium finishes, 9 top 10 finishes, and 3 personal bests.

The most dominant performance of the week came from FR. Evan Meisberger, who finished with a National Championship title in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 55.28. This was the first National Championship title earned for Ohio Christian's Track and Field program. Meisberger also finished as a National Runner-Up in the 110-meter hurdles, with a personal best time of 15.25 in the preliminary round, and 15.22 in the final round to secure the 2^nd place title.

Meisberger started his collegiate career with a time of 58.68 seconds in the 400-hurdles. This year, he has seen personal bests not only in the 400-hurdles, but in the 110-hurdles, the 60-hurdles, the 200-meter dash, and the 400-meter dash.
SO. Paige Parker also competed very strongly in her events at the National Meet, earning herself the National Runner-Up title in the 10,000-meter race with a personal best time of 38:43.07, which is almost a minute faster than her previous record. Parker also finished 4^th in the 5,000-meter with a time of 19:08.84.

Paige had a quick 12-hour turn around between both events. In the 10,000-meter on Thursday evening, she split two 19:21's back to back, then followed up the next morning with a solid time of 19:08 for a 4^th place finish. In high school, Paige had a personal best time of 21:02 in the 5,000-meter. She has since ran a time of 18:34.29 and is 4^th overall on the Cross Country All-Time list.

The Men's 4x800m relay finished 7^th overall with a time of 8:03.93, breaking the previous school record of 8:07.08. This team consisted of FR. Jonah Kiess, SR. Payton Herron, SR. Evan Caldwell, and SR. Corry Mientkiewicz.

SO. Impreza Rogers also performed well in the 5,000-meter race with a 6^th place finish and a time of 19:30.36. Rogers also has had strong success in her time at Ohio Christian. Starting with a high school PR of 21:43, she currently holds a 5,000m PR of 19:13. Impreza is currently 9^th overall on the Cross Country All-Time list, and is on 2 record holding relay teams.

SR. Corry Mientkiewicz finished 7^th overall in the men's 5,000-meter race with a time of 16:00.12. This was a season best for Mientkiewicz, and a very well run race. Corry has had a great career at Ohio Christian, having qualified for NAIA Nationals two separate times, and finishing as an All-American in the Indoor Men's 4x800 meter relay. Corry is 2^nd on the All-Time Cross Country list and holds 1 individual school record, and 3 relay records with Ohio Christian.

SO. Abigail Kobs also finished 7^th overall in the 3,000-meter steeple chase with a time of 12:38.41. Kobs, who opened up her college career with a time of 22:39 in the 5,000m, currently holds a personal best of 19:44 in the event. A younger athlete, Kobs still chose to pursue the grueling steeple chase, and holds the current school record time in that event, as well as being 6^th on the All-Time Cross Country list.

SR. Lexie Engstrom finished in 10^th place overall with a season best time of 2:21.94, just barely missing her lifetime best. Originally a transfer to Ohio Christian, Engstrom finished her career with 4 individual school records, and 2 relay team records to top off her incredible career with this university. She is also 8^th on the All-Time cross country list.

The Ohio Christian University track and field teams honor 6 seniors who will be graduating from the program: Lexie Engstrom, Jenna Ayer, Payton Herron, Jason Springer, Corry Mientkiewicz, and Elijah Newland. Thank you to these individuals on their time here at Ohio Christian, and all the work they have put in to make this program what it is.