Heitkamp Highlights DC Holiday Meet and Season Opener

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The George M. Smart Center survived its first test this afternoon as the DC women's track and field team took part in the DC Holiday Meet for the first meet of the 2012-2013 season. Senior Katie Heitkamp headed the women's squad with a first-place finish in a thrilling 500 meter run.

In the non-traditional 500 meter event, the competitors rounded the last turn with an extra sprint still ahead of them to the finish line. Not typically ran, Heitkamp took advantage of that last leg of the run and passed Adrian's Alivia Murphy for first-place with a time of 1:26.00. The Memorial High product also competed in the pole vault and the 4x400 relay.

For the 4x400 relay, Heitkamp joined fellow runners Kali George, Waverly Weaks and Brooke Lime and took second-place in the event. They missed the top spot by just less than three seconds and posted a time of 4:21.01.

Two of the relay members also had strong days as well by finishing second in two events. George, a junior, chalked up a 4.78 meter result in the long jump and Lime, a sophomore, ran a 9.93 in the 60 meter hurdles.

Lastly, junior Ericha Griep grabbed a first-place finish for the Lady Yellow Jackets in the 800 meter. The Oakwood, Ohio native crossed the finish line in 2:32.50, which was only 4.3 seconds off the DC indoor record set in 2003 by Sara Baillie.

The Purple and Gold women's track and field team will head to Angola, Ind. for the Trine Invitational on Friday, December 7. The meet is set to begin at 4:00 p.m.