Northern Kentucky University’s track and field teams concluded the Horizon League Indoor Championships on Sunday in Youngstown, Ohio, with three athletes winning individual titles and several program records set. The men’s team achieved its best finish to date, placing fifth overall with 51 points, while the women’s team also finished fifth with 68 points.
Olivia Kennedy won the first title of the day for Northern Kentucky by repeating as champion in the 800-meter run. She improved on her own record from last year, finishing in 2:10.88, more than a second and a half ahead of her nearest competitor. Cameron Bitterman secured a victory in the 200-meter run with a time of 24.35 seconds, narrowly edging out second place by less than a tenth of a second. Bitterman also placed third in the 400-meter final, running a personal-best time of 55.50 seconds.
Natnael Weldemichael capped off the competition for Northern Kentucky by winning the men’s 3000-meter championship after claiming victory in Saturday’s 5000-meter race. He was named Outstanding Running Performer of the meet, becoming Northern Kentucky’s first-ever recipient of this award at an indoor conference meet for either men or women.
Other notable performances included Colton O’Hara setting a new personal best and finishing fourth in the men’s 3000 meters with a time of 8:19.25. Bash Hedger posted the fastest freshman time in the men’s 60-meter final at 7.01 seconds and finished fourth overall. Josh Brockman took fourth place in the heptathlon with his strongest event being a second-place finish in Sunday’s concluding 1000 meters.
In field events, Osayi Ogbebor finished eighth in both high jump (1.92 meters) and the men’s 60-meter hurdles (8.63 seconds). Camden Pawlick recorded a personal best throw of 14.18 meters to finish seventh in shot put.
For the women’s team, Meredith Goff finished third in both the women’s 60-meter dash (7.60 seconds) and the women’s 200 meters (24.61 seconds), coming close to matching her own school record in each event. The women’s relay team—Sierra Kendall, Olivia Kennedy, Joi Bradley, and Cameron Bitterman—placed second in the 4×400 meter relay with an NKU-record time of 3:46.42.
Freshman Maggie Foust set a collegiate best by nearly twenty seconds to finish eighth among women’s runners in the 3000 meters at 10:02.69—the second-fastest freshman time at this meet—while Madison Neary achieved a collegiate-best mark by clearing 1.62 meters for eighth place in high jump.
Lacey Klare completed her run through finals by placing eighth in the women’s 60-meter hurdles at a time of 8.95 seconds.
“Natnael Weldemichael went on to be named Outstanding Running Performer of the meet, becoming NKU’s first-ever winner of the award at the indoor meet on either the men’s or women’s side.”
“Olivia Kennedy claimed her second consecutive indoor conference title in the 800m run, as she finished in 2:10.88, over a second and a half ahead of second place.”
“Cameron Bitterman took the title in the 200m run, running a 24.35, just less than a tenth ahead of second place.”
Northern Kentucky supporters can follow updates from NCAA Division I track & field teams via their social media channels including @NKUNorseXCTF on Twitter/X and Instagram as well as their official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
