ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Heidelberg University men's and women's track and field teams are off to a strong start at the Ohio Athletic Conference championships. On day one, sophomore Reese Recker was crowned OAC champion for women's javelin throw – only the fourth female in 'Berg history to win the event. 

The first day of competition consisted of half the field events, numerous sprint prelims and a few distance races. Currently, the women's team sits at fourth place with 30 points, while the men are in ninth with five points. 

The biggest medalist of the day was Recker taking gold in the javelin throw. She didn't waste any time getting to work, as her very first throw of the day is what won it. Heaving for 34.88m, she topped her career best by 2.45m, taking first from top-seeded Mount Union. The last time HU won the event was in 1996 by Sarah Williams.

To no surprise, the duo of Liv Bean and Lexi Wachtman placed high in the long jump. Bean tallied her ninth podium finish of the school year. Her leap of 5.54m, good for a PR, marked third place. This was her second All-OAC recognition for long jump. 

On her third jump, Wachtman marked 5.36m, which was good for a fifth-place finish. The two-sport athletes received fourth and sixth place during the indoor championships in February.

Although Isabel Chasney is a decorated Heidelberg cross-country runner, she competed in her first-ever 10k track race. Chasney's time of 37:21.77 earned a third-place All-OAC finish. 

The 3000m steeplechase featured two Student Princes, Rick Cimino and Caitlyn Mauger. Cimino finished in seventh with a time of 9:36.58, while Mauger took eighth at 12:07.24. Both runners marked personal bests of double-digit seconds. 

Both HU 4x800 teams took sixth place. The men's team comprised of Smith, Jimenez, Black, Hawkins and Reed finished in 8:03.02. Meanwhile, the women's team; Fountain, Mauger, Shaffer and McCall marked 10:45.58. 

In preliminary races, Jake McEntyre qualified for Friday finals in both the 100m and 200m dashes. Bean and Wachtman advanced to the finals in the 100m hurdles.

The track teams will be back at host school, Mount Union, for the final day of competition on Friday. Field events are set to start at 11 a.m. with running slated for 3:00 p.m.