Mount Union's men's track and field team, ranked No. 6 in the nation, will look to win its ninth straight title at the 2019 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships at Otterbein University Friday and Saturday in Westerville.
It was a conference record 36th team title for the Purple Raiders last year, who scored 212 points which was 50 points ahead of second place John Carroll.
Five-time OAC Men's Outdoor Track Coach of the Year Kevin Lucas returns a number of student-athletes this year ranked among the conference's best.
In the men's 400 meters, the Raiders have five of the conference's top eight times topped by James Roth (Massillon / Perry) and two-time defending conference champion AJ Digby (Tontogany / Otsego), while both of them along with Tyler Gill (Greenville, Pa. / Reynolds) and Clark Etzler (Elida) are in the top spot in the 4x400 meter relay.
Roth was the Sprint Athlete-of-the-Meet at the OAC Indoor Championships earlier this year.
Connor Troyer (Sugarcreek / Garaway) is seeded third in both the 110 and 400 meter hurdles while defending 110 meter hurdle champ Mason Plant (Shreve / Triway) is seeded fifth in the event. Troyer set the conference record in the 110 meter hurdles winning the title in 2017.
Evan Hershberger (Dalton) and Tanner Slack (New Concord / John Glenn) are ranked 2-3 in the high jump while Jeremiah Gyulai (Stow / Stow-Munroe Falls) and Garrett Daniello (Greenville, Pa. / Reynolds) are also 2-3 in the javelin throw. Slack was an all-conference performer in the event a year ago with a third place finish.
Sean Sherman (Franklin / Bishop Fenwick) and Lucas Cooper (Hanoverton / United Local) are seeded second in the shot put and discus respectively.
The top three finishers in each event earn All-OAC honors.
