Panthers Finish Third at NCCAA Championships

Published: April 13, 2021

CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Greenville won 5 events and had 6 additional All-American performances to finish in third place at the NCCAA Indoor Championships held in the Doden Fieldhouse on Cedarville University's campus. The Panthers were led again by senior standout Edgar Townsend whose 3 victories on the day earned him Outstanding Performer of the Meet honors.

Townsend sent a message early by winning the 55 meter hurdles in a school record time of 7.45. Edgar's time currently ranks him number one amongst all NCAA DIII hurdlers. Edgar anchored the winning 4x200 relay teaming with Chris Gunn, Brian White and Mark Mitchell for a runaway victory (1:31.51). Townsend's third victory of the afternoon came with his school record tying performance of 22.35 in the open 200.

Senior Rodney Oyler defended his title in the 800 meter run when he defeated the crowd in posting a respectable time of 1:56.65. Jumanne Bey was the lone field event winner for the Panthers winning the triple jump for the first time with a leap of 44'11 ". Bey's victory continued a stranglehold on the event by Greenville triple jumpers who have won the event 8 times in the last 9 years.

The top three finishers in each event are considered NCCAA All-Americans. Mark Mitchell picked up a runner up finish in the 55 meter dash (6.51) and a third place in the 200 (22.82). Other third place finishers included Brian White in the 55 meters (6.57); the distance medley relay (10:50.57) comprised of Alan Hollingsworth, Lance Ward, Alex Wolfe and Barry Parks. The 4x400 unit of Lance Ward, Anthony Robinson, Rem Dyas and Rodney Oyler also finished third (2:27.64).

The top three teams were separated by 12.5 points with Indiana Wesleyan winning the banner in the 13-team meet with 122.5 points. Cedarville was next with 116.5 points and was followed by Greenville at 110.